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diff --git a/23648.txt b/23648.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..33b23d2 --- /dev/null +++ b/23648.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10189 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Gaspar the Gaucho, by Mayne Reid + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Gaspar the Gaucho + A Story of the Gran Chaco + +Author: Mayne Reid + +Illustrator: F.C. Tilney + +Release Date: November 28, 2007 [EBook #23648] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GASPAR THE GAUCHO *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Gaspar the Gaucho, by Captain Mayne Reid. + +________________________________________________________________________ +This is another excellent book by the inventor of the Wild West genre. +Set in South America, in Paraguay, the hero and his band of friends have +many an adventure, just in the course of one voyage, or undertaking. +They frequently get themselves into dangerous and risky situations, but +always by their superior bush-craft manage to get themselves out of them +after having practically died, or at least having seen their horses die. + +This is a good book, a vintage one from the Victorian era. The author +learnt his bushcraft during the American-Mexican War, and has given us +several books whose subject and manner arose from what he learnt in that +war. + +________________________________________________________________________ +GASPAR THE GAUCHO, BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +THE GRAN CHACO. + +Spread before you a map of South America. Fix your eye on the point of +confluence between two of its great rivers--the Salado, which runs +south-easterly from the Andes mountains, and the Parana coming from the +north; carry your glance up the former to the town of Salta, in the +ancient province of Tucuman; do likewise with the latter to the point +where it espouses the Paraguay; then up this to the Brazilian frontier +fort of Coimbra; finally draw a line from the fort to the aforementioned +town--a line slightly curved with its convexity towards the Cordillera +of the Andes--and you will thus have traced a boundary embracing one of +the least known, yet most interesting, tracts of territory in either +continent of America, or, for that matter, in the world. Within the +limits detailed lies a region romantic in its past as mysterious in its +present; at this hour almost as much a _terra incognita_ as when the +boats of Mendoza vainly endeavoured to reach it from the Atlantic side, +and the gold-seekers of Pizarro's following alike unsuccessfully +attempted its exploration from the Pacific. Young reader, you will be +longing to know the name of this remarkable region; know it, then, as +the "Gran Chaco." + +No doubt you may have heard of it before, and, if a diligent student of +geography, made some acquaintance with its character. But your +knowledge of it must needs be limited, even though it were as extensive +as that possessed by the people who dwell upon its borders; for to them +the Gran Chaco is a thing of fear, and their intercourse with it one +which has brought them, and still brings, only suffering and sorrow. + +It has been generally supposed that the Spaniards of Columbus's time +subdued the entire territory of America, and held sway over its +red-skinned aborigines. This is a historical misconception. Although +lured by a love of gold, conjoined with a spirit of religious +propagandism, the so-called _Conquistadores_ overran a large portion of +both divisions of the continent, there were yet extensive tracts of each +never entered, much less colonised, by them--territories many times +larger than England, in which they never dared set foot. Of such were +Navajoa in the north, the country of the gallant Goajiros in the centre, +the lands of Patagonia and Arauco in the south, and notably the +territory lying between the Cordilleras of the Peruvian Andes and the +rivers Parana and Paraguay, designated "El Gran Chaco." + +This vast expanse of champaign, large enough for an empire, remains to +the present time not only uncolonised, but absolutely unexplored. For +the half-dozen expeditions that have attempted its exploration, timidly +entering and as hastily abandoning it, scarce merit consideration. + +And equally unsuccessful have been all efforts at religious propagandism +within its borders. The labours of the _padres_, both Jesuit and +Franciscan, have alike signally failed; the savages of the Chaco +refusing obedience to the cross as submission to the sword. + +Three large rivers--the Salado, Vermejo, and Pilcomayo--course through +the territory of the Chaco; the first forming its southern boundary, the +others intersecting it. They all take their rise in the Andes +Mountains, and after running for over a thousand miles in a +south-easterly direction and nearly parallel courses, mingle their +waters with those of the Parana and Paraguay. Very little is known of +these three great streams, though of late years the Salado has received +some exploration. There is a better acquaintance with its upper +portion, where it passes through the settled districts of Santiago and +Tucuman. Below, even to the point where it enters the Parana, only a +strong military expedition may with safety approach its banks, by reason +of their being also traversed by predatory bands of the savages. + +Geographical knowledge of the Vermejo is still less, and of the +Pilcomayo least of all; this confined to the territory of their upper +waters, long since colonised by the Argentine States and the Republic of +Bolivia, and now having many towns in it. But below, as with the +Salado, where these rivers enter the region of the Chaco, they become as +if they were lost to the geographer; even the mouth of the Pilcomayo not +being known for certain, though one branch of it debouches into the +Paraguay, opposite the town of Assuncion, the capital of Paraguay +itself! It enters the river of this name by a forked or _deltoid_ +channel, its waters making their way through a marshy tract of country +in numerous slow flowing _riachos_, whose banks, thickly overgrown with +a lush sedgy vegetation, are almost concealed from the eye of the +explorer. + +Although the known mouth of the Pilcomayo is almost within gun-shot of +Assuncion--the oldest Spanish settlement in this part of South America-- +no Paraguayan ever thinks of attempting its ascent, and the people of +the town are as ignorant of the land lying along that river's shores as +on the day when the old naturalist, Azara, paddles his _periagua_ some +forty miles against its obstructing current. No scheme of colonisation +has ever been designed or thought of by them; for it is only near its +source, as we have seen, that settlements exist. In the Chaco no white +man's town ever stood upon its banks, nor church spire flung shadow +athwart its unfurrowed waves. + +It may be asked why this neglect of a territory, which would seem so +tempting to the colonist? For the Gran Chaco is no sterile tract, like +most parts of the Navajo country in the north, or the plains of +Patagonia and the sierras of Arauco in the south. Nor is it a humid, +impervious forest, at seasons inundated, as with some portions of the +Amazon valley and the deltas of the Orinoco. + +Instead, what we do certainly know of the Chaco shows it the very +country to invite colonisation; having every quality and feature to +attract the settler in search of a new home. Vast verdant savannas-- +natural clearings--rich in nutritious grasses, and groves of tropical +trees, with the palm predominating; a climate of unquestionable +salubrity, and a soil capable of yielding every requisite for man's +sustenance as the luxury of life. In very truth, the Chaco may be +likened to a vast park or grand landscape garden, still under the +culture of the Creator! + +But why not also submitted to the tillage of man? The answer is easy: +because the men who now hold it will not permit intrusion on their +domain--to them hereditary--and they are hunters, not _agriculturists_. +It is still in the possession of its red-skinned owners, the original +lords of its soil, these warlike Indians, who have hitherto defied all +attempts to enslave or subdue them, whether made by soldier, miner, or +missionary. These independent savages, mounted upon fleet steeds, which +they manage with the skill of Centaurs, scour the plains of the Chaco, +swift as birds upon the wing. Disdaining fixed residence, they roam +over its verdant pastures and through its perfumed groves, as bees from +flower to flower, pitching their _toldos_, and making camp in whatever +pleasant spot may tempt them. Savages though called, who would not envy +them such a charming _insouciant_ existence? Do not you, young reader? + +I anticipate your answer, "Yes." Come with me, then! Let us enter the +"Gran Chaco," and for a time partake of it! + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +PARAGUAY'S DESPOT. + +Notwithstanding what I have said of the Chaco remaining uncolonised and +unexplored, I can tell of an exception. In the year 1836, one ascending +the Pilcomayo to a point about a hundred miles from its mouth, would +there see a house, which could have been built only by a white man, or +one versed in the ways of civilisation. Not that there was anything +very imposing in its architecture; for it was but a wooden structure, +the walls of bamboo, and the roof a thatch of the palm called +_cuberta_--so named from the use made of its fronds in covering sheds +and houses. But the superior size of this dwelling, far exceeding that +of the simple _toldos_ of the Chaco Indians; its ample verandah pillared +and shaded by a protecting roof of the same palm leaves; and, above all, +several well-fenced enclosures around it, one of them containing a +number of tame cattle, others under tillage--with maize, manioc, the +plantain, and similar tropical products--all these insignia evinced the +care and cultivating hand of some one else than an aboriginal. + +Entering the house, still further evidence of the white man's presence +would be observed. Furniture, apparently home-made, yet neat, pretty, +and suitable; chairs and settees of the _cana brava_, or South American +bamboo; bedsteads of the same, with beds of the elastic Spanish moss, +and _ponchos_ for coverlets; mats woven from fibres of another species +of palm, with here and there a swung hammock. In addition, some books +and pictures that appeared to have been painted on the spot; a bound +volume of music, with a violin and guitar--all speaking of a domestic +economy unknown to the American Indian. + +In some of the rooms, as also in the outside verandah, could be noticed +objects equally unlike the belongings of the aboriginal: stuffed skins +of wild beasts and birds; insects impaled on strips of palm bark; moths, +butterflies, and brilliant scarabaei; reptiles preserved in all their +repulsive ugliness, with specimens of ornamental woods, plants, and +minerals; a singular paraphernalia, evidently the product of the region +around. Such a collection could only belong to a _naturalist_, and that +naturalist could be no other than a white man. He was; his name Ludwig +Halberger. + +The name plainly speaks his nationality--a German. And such was he; a +native of the then kingdom of Prussia, born in the city of Berlin. + +Though not strange his being a naturalist--since the taste for and study +of Nature are notably peculiar to the German people--it was strange to +find Prussian or other European having his home in such an +out-of-the-way place. There was no civilised settlement, no other white +man's dwelling, nearer than the town of Assuncion; this quite a hundred +miles off, to the eastward. And north, south, and west the same for +more than five times the distance. All the territory around and +between, a wilderness, unsettled, unexplored, traversed only by the +original lords of the soil, the Chaco Indians, who, as said, have +preserved a deadly hostility to the paleface, ever since the keels of +the latter first cleft the waters of the Parana. + +To explain, then, how Ludwig Halberger came to be domiciled there, so +far from civilisation, and so high up the Pilcomayo--river of mysterious +note--it is necessary to give some details of his life antecedent to the +time of his having established this solitary _estancia_. To do so a +name of evil augury and ill repute must needs be introduced--that of Dr +Francia, Dictator of Paraguay, who for more than a quarter of a century +ruled that fair land verily with a rod of iron. With this same +demon-like tyrant, and the same almost heavenly country, is associated +another name, and a reputation as unlike that of Jose Francia as +Hyperion to the Satyr, and which justice to a godlike humanity forbids +me to pass over in silence. I speak of Amade, or, as he is better +known, _Aime_ Bonpland--cognomen appropriate to this most estimable +man--known to all the world as the friend and fellow-traveller of +Humboldt; more still, his assistant and collaborates in those scientific +researches, as yet unequalled for truthfulness and extent--the +originator and discoverer of much of that learned lore, which, with +modesty unparalleled, he has allowed his more energetic and more +ambitious _compagnon de voyage_ to have credit for. + +Though no name sounds more agreeably to my ears than that of Aime +Bonpland, I cannot here dwell upon it, nor write his biography, however +congenial the theme. Some one who reads this may find the task both +pleasant and profitable; for though his bones slumber obscurely on the +banks of the Parana, amidst the scenes so loved by him, his name will +one day have a higher niche in Fame's temple than it has hitherto held-- +perhaps not much lower than that of Humboldt himself. I here introduce +it, with some incidents of his life, as affecting the first character +who figures in this my tale. But for Aime Bonpland, Ludwig Halberger +might never have sought a South American home. It was in following the +example of the French philosopher, of whom he had admiringly read, that +the Prussian naturalist made his way to the La Plata and up to Paraguay, +where Bonpland had preceded him. But first to give the adventures of +the latter in that picturesque land, of which a short account will +suffice; then afterwards to the incidents of my story. + +Retiring from the busy world, of which he seems to have been somewhat +weary, Bonpland took up his residence on the banks of the Rio Parana; +not in Paraguayan territory, but that of the Argentine Republic, on the +opposite side of the river. There settled down, he did not give his +hours to idleness; nor yet altogether to his favourite pursuit, the +pleasant though somewhat profitless one of natural history. Instead, he +devoted himself to cultivation, the chief object of his culture being +the "yerba de Paraguay," which yields the well-known _mate_, or +Paraguayan tea. In this industry he was eminently successful. His +amiable manners and inoffensive character attracted the notice of his +neighbours, the Guarani Indians--a peaceful tribe of proletarian +habits--and soon a colony of these collected around him, entering his +employ, and assisting him in the establishment of an extensive +"yerbale," or tea-plantation, which bid fair to become profitable. + +The Frenchman was on the high-road to fortune, when a cloud appeared, +coming from an unexpected quarter of the sky--the north. The report of +his prosperity had reached the ears of Francia, Paraguay's then despot +and dictator, who, with other strange theories of government, held the +doctrine that the cultivation of "yerba" was a right exclusively +Paraguayan--in other words, belonging solely to himself. True, the +French colonist, his rival cultivator, was not within his jurisdiction, +but in the state of Corrientes, and the territory of the Argentine +Confederation. Not much, that, to Dr Francia, accustomed to make light +of international law, unless it were supported by national strength and +backed by hostile bayonets. At the time Corrientes had neither of these +to deter him, and in the dead hour of a certain night, four hundred of +his myrmidons--the noted _quarteleros_--crossed the Parana, attacked the +tea-plantation of Bonpland, and after making massacre of a half-score of +his Guarani _peons_, carried himself a prisoner to the capital of +Paraguay. + +The Argentine Government, weak with its own intestine strife, submitted +to the insult almost unprotestingly. Bonpland was but a Frenchman and +foreigner; and for nine long years was he held captive in Paraguay. +Even the English _charge d'affaires_, and a Commission sent thither by +the Institute of France, failed to get him free! Had he been a +lordling, or some little _viscomte_, his forced residence in Paraguay +would have been of shorter duration. An army would have been despatched +to "extradite" him. But Aime Bonpland was only a student of Nature--one +of those unpretending men who give the world all the knowledge it has, +worth having--and so was he left to languish in captivity. True, his +imprisonment was not a very harsh one, and rather partook of the +character of _parole d'honneur_. Francia was aware of his wonderful +knowledge, and availed himself of it, allowing his captive to live +unmolested. But again the amiable character of the Frenchman had an +influence on his life, this time adversely. Winning for him universal +respect among the simple Paraguayans, it excited the envy of their vile +ruler; who once again, and at night, had his involuntary guest seized +upon, carried beyond the confines of his territory, and landed upon +Argentine soil--but stripped of everything save the clothes on his back! + +Soon after, Bonpland settled near the town of Corrientes, where, safe +from further persecution, he once more entered upon agricultural +pursuits. And there, in the companionship of a South American lady--his +wife--with a family of happy children, he ended a life that had lasted +for fourscore years, innocent and unblemished, is it had been useful, +heroic, and glorious. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +THE HUNTER-NATURALIST. + +In some respects similar to the experience of Aime Bonpland was that of +Ludwig Halberger. Like the former, an ardent lover of Nature, as also +an accomplished naturalist, he too had selected South America as the +scene of his favourite pursuits. On the great river Parana--better, +though erroneously, known to Europeans as the La Plata--he would find an +almost untrodden field. For although the Spanish naturalist, Azara, had +there preceded him, the researches of the latter were of the olden time, +and crude imperfect kind, before either zoology or botany had developed +themselves into a science. + +Besides, the Prussian was moderately fond of the chase, and to such a +man the great _pampas_ region, with its pumas and jaguars, its +ostriches, wild horses, and grand _guazuti_ stags, offered an +irresistible attraction. There he could not only indulge his natural +taste, but luxuriate in them. + +He, too, had resided nine years in Paraguay, and something more. But, +unlike Bonpland, his residence there was voluntary. Nor did he live +alone. Lover of Nature though he was, and addicted to the chase, +another kind of love found its way to his heart, making himself a +captive. The dark eyes of a Paraguayan girl penetrated his breast, +seeming brighter to him than the plumage of the gaudiest birds, or the +wings of the most beautiful butterflies. + +"_El Gilero_" the blonde--as these swarthy complexioned people were wont +to call the Teutonic stranger--found favour in the eyes of the young +Paraguayense, who reciprocating his honest love, consented to become his +wife; and became it. She was married at the age of fourteen, he being +over twenty. + +"So young for a bride!" many of my readers will exclaim. But that is +rather a question of race and climate. In Spanish America, land of +feminine precocity, there is many a wife and mother not yet entered on +her teens! + +For nigh ten years Halberger lived happily with his youthful _esposa_; +all the happier that in due time a son and daughter--the former +resembling himself, the latter a very image of her mother--enlivened +their home with sweet infantine prattle. And as the years rolled by, a +third youngster came to form part of the family circle--this neither son +nor daughter, but an orphan child of the Senora's sister deceased. A +boy he was, by name Cypriano. + +The home of the hunter-naturalist was not in Assuncion, but some twenty +miles out in the "_campo_." He rarely visited the capital, except on +matters of business. For a business he had; this of somewhat unusual +character. It consisted chiefly in the produce of his gun and +insect-net. Many a rare specimen of bird and quadruped, butterfly and +beetle, captured and preserved by Ludwig Halberger, at this day adorns +the public museums of Prussia and other European countries. But for the +dispatch and shipment of these he would never have cared to show himself +in the streets of Assuncion; for, like all true naturalists, he had no +affection for city life. Assuncion, however, being the only shipping +port in Paraguay, he had no choice but repair thither whenever his +collections became large enough to call for exportation. + +Beginning life in South America with moderate means, the Prussian +naturalist had prospered: so much, as to have a handsome house, with a +tract of land attached, and a fair retinue of servants; these last, all +"Guanos," a tribe of Indians long since tamed and domesticated. He had +been fortunate, also, in securing the services of a _gaucho_, named +Gaspar, a faithful fellow, skilled in many callings, who acted as his +_mayor-domo_ and man of confidence. + +In truth, was Ludwig Halberger in the enjoyment of a happy existence, +and eminently prosperous. Like Aime Bonpland, he was fairly on the road +to fortune; when, just as with the latter, a cloud overshadowed his +life, coming from the self-same quarter. His wife, lovely at fourteen, +was still beautiful at twenty-four, so much as to attract the notice of +Paraguay's Dictator. And with Dr Francia to covet was to possess, +where the thing coveted belonged to any of his own subjects. Aware of +this, warned also of Francia's partiality by frequent visits with which +the latter now deigned to honour him, Ludwig Halberger saw there was no +chance to escape domestic ruin, but by getting clear out of the country. +It was not that he doubted the fidelity of his wife; on the contrary, +he knew her to be true as she was beautiful. How could he doubt it, +since it was from her own lips he first learnt of the impending danger? + +Away from Paraguay, then--away anywhere--was his first and +quickly-formed resolution, backed by the counsels of his loyal partner +in life. But the design was easier than its execution; the last not +only difficult, but to all appearance impossible. For it so chanced +that one of the laws of that exclusive land--an edict of the Dictator +himself--was to the point prohibitive; forbidding any foreigner who +married a native woman to take her out of the country, without having a +written permission from the Executive Head of the State. Ludwig +Halberger was a foreigner, his wife native born, and the Head of the +State Executive, as in every other sense, was Jose Gaspar Francia! + +The case was conclusive. For the Prussian to have sought permission to +depart, taking his wife along with him, would have been more than +folly--madness--hastening the very danger he dreaded. + +Flight, then? But whither, and in what direction? To flee into the +Paraguayan forests could not avail him, or only for a short respite. +These, traversed by the _cascarilleros_ and gatherers of yerba, all in +the Dictator's employ and pay, would be no safer than the streets of +Assuncion itself. A party of fugitives, such as the naturalist and his +family, could not long escape observation; and seen, they would as +surely be captured and carried back. The more surely from the fact that +the whole system of Paraguayan polity under Dr Francia's regime was one +of treachery and espionage, every individual in the land finding it to +his profit to do dirty service for "El Supremo"--as they styled their +despotic chief. + +On the other side there was the river, but still more difficult would it +be to make escape in that direction. All along its bank, to the point +where it enters the Argentine territory, had Francia established his +military stations, styled _guardias_, where sentinels kept watch at all +hours, by night as in the day. For a boat to pass down, even the +smallest skiff, without being observed by some of these Argus-eyed +videttes, would have been absolutely impossible; and if seen as surely +brought to a stop, and taken back to Assuncion. + +Revolving all these difficulties in his mind, Ludwig Halberger was +filled with dismay, and for a long time kept in a state of doubt and +chilling despair. At length, however, a thought came to relieve him--a +plan of flight, which promised to have a successful issue. He would +flee into the Chaco! + +To the mind of any other man in Paraguay the idea would have appeared +preposterous. If Francia resembled the frying-pan, the Chaco to a +Paraguayan seemed the fire itself. A citizen of Assuncion would no more +dare to set foot on the further side of that stream which swept the very +walls of his town, than would a besieging soldier on the _glacis_ of the +fortress he besieged. The life of a white man caught straying in the +territory of "El Gran Chaco" would not have been worth a withey. If not +at once impaled on an Indian spear held in the hand of "Tova" or +"Guaycuru," he would be carried into a captivity little preferable to +death. + +For all this, Ludwig Halberger had no fear of crossing over to the Chaco +side, nor penetrating into its interior. He had often gone thither on +botanising and hunting expeditions. But for this apparent recklessness +he had a reason, which must needs here be given. Between the Chaco +savages and the Paraguayan people there had been intervals of +peace--_tiempos de paz_--during which occurred amicable intercourse; the +Indians rowing over the river and entering the town to traffic off their +skins, ostrich feathers, and other commodities. On one of these +occasions the head chief of the Tovas tribe, by name Naraguana, having +imbibed too freely of _guarape_, and in some way got separated from his +people, became the butt of some Paraguayan boys, who were behaving +towards him just as the idle lads of London or the _gamins_ of Paris +would to one appearing intoxicated in the streets. The Prussian +naturalist chanced to be passing at the time; and seeing the Indian, an +aged man, thus insulted, took pity upon and rescued him from his +tormentors. + +Recovering from his debauch, and conscious of the service the stranger +had done him, the Tovas chief swore eternal friendship to his generous +protector, at the same time proffering him the "freedom of the Chaco." + +The incident, however, caused a rupture between the Tovas tribe and the +Paraguayan Government, terminating the _tiempo de paz_, which had not +since been renewed. More unsafe than ever would it have been for a +Paraguayan to set foot on the western side of the river. But Ludwig +Halberger knew that the prohibition did not extend to him; and relying +on Naraguana's proffered friendship, he now determined upon retreating +into the Chaco, and claiming the protection of the Tovas chief. + +Luckily, his house was not a great way from the river's bank, and in the +dead hour of a dark night, accompanied by wife and children--taking +along also his Guano servants, with such of his household effects as +could be conveniently carried, the faithful Caspar guiding and managing +all--he was rowed across the Paraguay and up the Pilcomayo. He had been +told that at some thirty leagues from the mouth of the latter stream, +was the _tolderia_ of the Tovas Indians. And truly told; since before +sunset of the second day he succeeded in reaching it, there to be +received amicably, as he had anticipated. Not only did Naraguana give +him a warm welcome but assistance in the erection of his dwelling; +afterwards stocking his _estancia_ with horses and cattle caught on the +surrounding plains. These tamed and domesticated, with their progeny, +are what anyone would have seen in his _corrals_ in the year 1836, at +the time the action of our tale commences. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +HIS NEAREST NEIGHBOURS. + +The house of the hunter-naturalist was placed at some distance from the +river's bank, its site chosen with an eye to the picturesque; and no +lovelier landscape ever lay before the windows of a dwelling. From its +front ones--or, better still, the verandah outside them--the eye +commands a view alone limited by the power of vision: verdant savannas, +mottled with copses of acacia and groves of palm, with here and there +single trees of the latter standing solitary, their smooth stems and +gracefully-curving fronds cut clear as cameos against the azure sky. +Nor is it a dead level plain, as _pampas_ and prairies are erroneously +supposed always to be. Instead, its surface is varied with undulations; +not abrupt as the ordinary hill and dale scenery, but gently swelling +like the ocean's waves when these have become crestless after the +subsidence of a storm. + +Looking across this champaign from Halberger's house at almost any hour +of the day, one would rarely fail to observe living creatures moving +upon it. It may be a herd of the great _guazuti_ deer, or the smaller +_pampas_ roe, or, perchance, a flock of _rheas_--the South American +ostrich--stalking along tranquilly or in flight, with their long necks +extended far before, and their plumed tails streaming train-like behind +them. Possibly they may have been affrighted by the tawny puma, or +spotted jaguar, seen skulking through the long pampas grass like +gigantic cats. A drove of wild horses, too, may go careering past, with +manes and tails showing a wealth of hair which shears have never +touched; now galloping up the acclivity of a ridge; anon disappearing +over its crest to re-appear on one farther off and of greater elevation. +Verily, a scene of Nature in its wildest and most interesting aspect! + +Upon that same plain, Ludwig Halberger and his people are accustomed to +see others than wild horses--some with men upon their backs, who sit +them as firmly as riders in the ring; that is, when they do _sit_ them, +which is not always. Often may they be seen standing erect upon their +steeds, these going in full gallop! True, your ring-rider can do the +same; but then his horse gallops in a circle, which makes it a mere feat +of centrifugal and centripetal balancing. Let him try it in a straight +line, and he would drop off like a ripe pear from the tree. No curving +course needs the Chaco Indian, no saddle nor padded platform on the back +of his horse, which he can ride standing almost as well as seated. No +wonder, then, these savages--if savages they may be called--have +obtained the fanciful designation of centaurs--the "Red Centaurs of the +Chaco." + +Those seen by Ludwig Halberger and his family are the "Tovas," already +introduced. Their village, termed _tolderia_, is about ten miles off, +up the river. Naraguana wished the white man to have fixed his +residence nearer to him, but the naturalist knew that would not answer. +Less than two leagues from an Indian encampment, and still more if a +permanent dwelling-place, which this _tolderia_ is, would make the +pursuit of his calling something more than precarious. The wild birds +and beasts--in short, all the animated creation--dislike the proximity +of the Indian, and flee his presence afar. + +It may seem strange that the naturalist still continues to form +collections, so far from any place where he might hope to dispose of +them. Down the Pilcomayo he dares not take them, as that would only +bring him back to the Paraguay river, interdict to navigation, as ever +jealously guarded, and, above all, tabooed to himself. But he has no +thought, or intention, to attempt communicating with the civilised world +in that way; while a design of doing so in quite another direction has +occurred to him, and, in truth, been already all arranged. This, to +carry his commodities overland to the Rio Vermejo, and down that stream +till near its mouth; then again overland, and across the Parana to +Corrientes. There he will find a shipping port in direct commerce with +Buenos Ayres, and so beyond the jurisdiction of Paraguay's Dictator. + +Naraguana has promised him not only an escort of his best braves, but a +band of _cargadores_ (carriers) for the transport of his freight; these +last the slaves of his tribe. For the aristocratic Tovas Indians have +their bondsmen, just as the Caffres, or Arab merchants of Africa. + +Nearly three years have elapsed since the naturalist became established +in his new quarters, and his collection has grown to be a large one. +Safely landed in any European port, it would be worth many thousands of +dollars; and thither he wishes to have it shipped as soon as possible. +He has already warned Naraguana of his wish, and that the freight is +ready; the chief, on his part, promising to make immediate preparations +for its transport overland. + +But a week has passed over, and no Naraguana, nor any messenger from +him, has made appearance at the _estancia_. No Indian of the Tovas +tribe has been seen about the place, nor anywhere near it; in short, no +redskin has been seen at all, save the _guanos_, Halberger's own male +and female domestics. + +Strange all this! Scarce ever has a whole week gone by without his +receiving a visit from the Tovas chief, or some one of his tribe; and +rarely half this time without Naraguana's own son, by name Aguara, +favouring the family with a call, and making himself as agreeable as +savage may in the company of civilised people. + +For all, there is one of that family to whom his visits are anything but +agreeable; in truth, the very reverse. This Cypriano, who has conceived +the fancy, or rather feels conviction, that the eyes of the young Tovas +chief rest too often, and too covetously, on his pretty cousin, +Francesca. Perhaps, except himself, no one has noticed this, and he +alone is glad to count the completion of a week without any Indian +having presented himself at his uncle's establishment. + +Though there is something odd in their prolonged non-appearance, still +it is nothing to be alarmed about. On other occasions there had been +intervals of absence as long, and even longer, when the men of the tribe +were away from their _tolderia_, on some foraging or hunting expedition. +Nor would Halberger have thought anything of it; but for the +understanding between him and the Tovas chief, in regard to the +transport of his collections. Naraguana had never before failed in any +promise made to him. Why should he in this? + +A sense of delicacy hinders the naturalist from riding over to the Tovas +town, and asking explanation why the chief delays keeping his word. In +all such matters, the American Indian, savage though styled, is +sensitive as the most refined son of civilisation; and, knowing this, +Ludwig Halberger waits for Naraguana to come to him. + +But when a second week has passed, and a third, without the Tovas chief +reporting himself, or sending either message or messenger, the Prussian +becomes really apprehensive, not so much for himself, as the safety of +his red-skinned protector. Can it be that some hostile band has +attacked the Tovas tribe, massacred all the men, and carried off the +women? For in the Chaco are various communities of Indians, often at +deadly feud with one another. Though such conjecture seems improbable, +the thing is yet possible; and to assure himself, Halberger at length +resolves upon going over to the _tolderia_ of the Tovas. Ordering his +horse saddled, he mounts, and is about to ride off alone, when a sweet +voice salutes him, saying:-- + +"Papa! won't you take me with you?" + +It is his daughter who speaks, a girl not yet entered upon her teens. + +"In welcome, Francesca. Come along!" is his answer to her query. + +"Then stay till I get my pony. I sha'n't be a minute." + +She runs back towards the corrals, calling to one of the servants to +saddle her diminutive steed. Which, soon brought round to the front of +the house, receives her upon its back. + +But now another, also a soft, sweet voice, is heard in exhortation. It +is that of Francesca's mother, entering protest against her husband +either going alone, or with a companion so incapable of protecting him. +She says:-- + +"Dear Ludwig, take Caspar with you. There may be danger--who knows?" + +"Let me go, _tio_?" puts in Cypriano, with impressive eagerness, his +eyes turned towards his cousin as though he did not at all relish the +thought of her visiting the Tovas village without his being along with +her. + +"And me, too?" also requests Ludwig, the son, who is two years older +than his sister. + +"No, neither of you," rejoins the father. "Ludwig, you would not leave +your mother alone? Besides, remember I have set both you and Cypriano a +lesson, which you must learn off to-day. There is nothing to fear, +_querida_!" he adds, addressing himself to his wife. "We are not now in +Paraguay, but a country where our old Friend Francia and his satellites +dare not intrude on us. Besides, I cannot spare the good Caspar from +some work I have given him to do. Bah! 'Tis only a bit of a morning's +trot there and back; and if I find there's nothing wrong, we'll be home +again in little ever a couple of hours. So _adios! Vamos_, Francesca!" + +With a wave of his hand he moves off, Francesca giving her tiny roadster +a gentle touch of the whip, and trotting by his side. + +The other three, left standing in the verandah, with their eyes follow +the departing equestrians, the countenance of each exhibiting an +expression that betrays different emotions in their minds, these +differing both as to the matter of thought and the degree of intensity. +Ludwig simply looks a little annoyed at having to stay at home when he +wanted to go abroad, but without any great feeling of disappointment; +whereas Cypriano evidently suffers chagrin, so much that he is not +likely to profit by the appointed lesson. With the Senora herself it is +neither disappointment nor chagrin, but a positive and keen +apprehension. A daughter of Paraguay, brought up to believe its ruler +all powerful over the earth, she can hardly realise the idea of there +being a spot where the hand of "El Supremo" cannot reach and punish +those who have thwarted his wishes or caprices. Many the tale has she +heard whispered in her ear, from the cradle upwards, telling of the +weird power of this wicked despot, and the remorseless manner in which +he has often wielded it. Even after their escape into the chaco, where, +under the protection of the Tovas chief, they might laugh his enmity to +scorn, she has never felt the confidence of complete security. And now, +that an uncertainty has arisen as to what has befallen Naraguana and his +people, her fears became redoubled and intensified. Standing in the +trellissed verandah, her eyes fixed upon the departing forms of her +husband and daughter, she has a heaviness at the heart, a presentiment +of some impending danger, which seems so near and dreadful as to cause +shivering throughout her frame. + +The two youths, observing this, essay to reassure her--one in filial +duty, the other with affection almost as warm. + +Alas! in vain. As the crown of the tall hat worn by her husband, goes +down behind the crest of a distant ridge, Francesca's having sooner +disappeared, her heart sinks at the same time; and, making a sign of the +cross, she exclaims in desponding accents:-- + +"_Madre de Dios_! We may ne'er see them more!" + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +A DESERTED VILLAGE. + +Riding at a gentle amble, so that his daughter on her small palfrey may +easily keep up with him, Halberger in due time arrives at the Indian +village; to his surprise seeing it is no more a village, or only a +deserted one! The toldos of bamboo and palm thatch are still standing, +but untenanted--every one of them! + +Dismounting, he steps inside them, one after the other, but finds each +and all unoccupied--neither man, woman, nor child within; nor without, +either in the alleys between, or on the large open space around which +the frail tenements are set, that has served as a loitering-place for +the older members of the tribe, and a play-ground for the younger. + +The grand council room, called _malocca_, he also enters with like +result; no one is inside it--not a soul to be seen anywhere, either in +the streets of the village or on the plain stretching around! + +He is alarmed as much as surprised; indeed more, since he has been +anticipating something amiss. But by degrees, as he continues to make +an examination of the place, his apprehensions became calmed down, these +having been for the fate of the Indians themselves. His first thought +he had entertained while conjecturing the cause of their long absence +from the _estancia_, was that some hostile tribe had attacked them, +massacred the men, and carried captive the women and children. Such +tragical occurrences are far from uncommon among the red aborigines of +America, Southern or Northern. Soon, however, his fears on this score +are set at rest. Moving around, he detects no traces of a struggle, +neither dead bodies nor blood. If there had been a fight the corpses of +the fallen would surely still be there, strewing the plain; and not a +_toldo_ would be standing or seen--instead, only their ashes. + +As it is, he finds the houses all stripped of their furniture and +domestic utensils; these evidently borne off not as by marauders, but +taken away in a systematic manner, as when a regular move is made by +these nomadic people. He sees fragments of cut _sipos_ and bits of +raw-hide thong--the overplus left after packing. + +Though no longer alarmed for the safety of the Indians, he is, +nevertheless, still surprised and perplexed. What could have taken them +away from the _tolderia_, and whither can they have gone? Strange, too, +Naraguana should have left the place in such unceremonious fashion, +without giving him, Halberger, notice of his intention! Their absence +on this occasion cannot be accounted for by any hunting or foraging +expedition, nor can it be a foray of war. In any of these cases the +women and children would have been left behind. Beyond doubt, it is an +absolute abandonment of the place; perhaps with no intention of +returning to it; or not for a very long time. + +Revolving these thoughts through his mind, Halberger climbs back into +his saddle, and sits further reflecting. His daughter, who has not +dismounted, trots up to his side, she, too, in as much wonderment as +himself; for, although but a very young creature, almost a child in age, +she has passed through experiences that impart the sageness of years. +She knows of all the relationships which exist between them and the +Tovas tribe, and knows something of why her father fled from his old +home; that is, she believes it to have been through fear of El Supremo, +the "bogie" of every Paraguayan child, boy or girl. Aware of the +friendship of the Tovas chief, and the protection he has extended to +them, she now shares her father's surprise, as she had his +apprehensions. + +They exchange thoughts on the subject--the child equally perplexed with +the parent; and after an interval passed in conjecturing, all to no +purpose, Halberger is about to turn and ride home again, when it occurs +to him he had better find out in what direction the Indians went away +from their village. + +There is no difficulty in discovering this; the trail of their ridden +horses, still more that of their pack animals, is easily found and +followed. It leads out from the village at the opposite end from that +by which they themselves entered; and after following it for a mile or +so along the river's bank, they see that it takes an abrupt turn across +the _pampa_. Up to this point it has been quite conspicuous, and is +also beyond; for although it is anything but recent, no rain has since +fallen, and the hoof-prints of the horses can be here and there +distinguished clean cut on the smooth sward, over which the mounted men +had gone at a gallop. Besides, there is the broad belt of trodden grass +where the pack animals toiled more slowly along; and upon this bits of +broken utensils, with other useless articles, have been dropped and +abandoned, plainly proclaiming the character of the cavalcade. + +Here Halberger would halt, and turn back, but for a remembrance coming +into his mind which hinders, at the same time urging him to continue on. +In one of his hunting excursions he had been over this ground before, +and remembers that some ten miles further on a tributary stream flows +into the Pilcomayo. Curious to know whether the departing Tovas have +turned up this tributary, or followed the course of the main river, he +determines to proceed. For glancing skyward, he sees that the sun is +just crossing the meridian, and knows he will have no lack of time +before darkness can overtake him. The circumstances and events, so +strange and startling, cause him to forget that promise made to his +wife--soon to be back at the _estancia_. + +Spurring his horse, and calling on Francesca to follow, he starts off +again at a brisk gallop; which is kept up till they draw bridle on the +bank of the influent stream. + +This, though broad, is but shallow, with a selvedge of soft ooze on +either side; and on that where they have arrived the mud shows the track +of several hundred horses. Without crossing over, Halberger can see +that the Indian trail leads on along the main river, and not up the +branch stream. + +Again he is on the balance, to go back--with the intention of returning +next day, accompanied by Caspar, and making further search for the +missing Indians--when an object comes under his eye, causing him to give +a start of surprise. + +It is only the track of a horse; and strange that this should surprise +him, among hundreds. But the one on which he has fixed his attention +differs from all the rest in being the hoof-print of a _shod_ horse, +while the others are as Nature made them. Still even this difference +would not make so much impression upon him were the tracks of the same +_age_. Himself skilled as any Indian in the reading of _pampas_ sign, +at a glance he sees they are not. The hoof-marks of the Tovas horses in +their travelling train are all quite three weeks old; while the animal +having the iron on its heels, must have crossed over that stream within +the week. + +Its rider, whoever he was, could not have been in the company of the +departing Tovas; and to him now regarding the tracks, it is only a +question as to whether he were a _white_ man, or Indian. Everything is +against his having been the former, travelling in a district tabooed to +the palefaces, other than Halberger and his--everything, save the fact +of his being on the back of a _shod_ horse; while this alone hinders the +supposition of the animal being bestridden by an Indian. + +For a long while the hunter-naturalist, with Francesca by his side, sits +in his saddle contemplating the shod hoof-prints in a reverie of +reflection. He at length thinks of crossing the tributary stream, to +see if these continue on with the Indian trail, and has given his horse +the spur, with a word to his daughter to do likewise, when voices reach +his ear from the opposite side, warning him to pull in again. Along +with loud words and ejaculations there is laughter; as of boys at play, +only not stationary in one place, but apparently moving onward, and +drawing nearer to him. + +On both sides of the branch stream, as also along the banks of the +river, is a dense growth of tropical vegetation--mostly underwood, with +here and there a tall _moriche_ palm towering above the humbler shrubs. +Through this they who travel so gleefully are making their way; but +cannot yet be seen from the spot where Halberger has halted. But just +on the opposite bank, where the trail goes up from the ford, is a bit of +treeless sward, several acres in extent, in all likelihood, kept clear +of undergrowth by the wild horses and other animals on their way to the +water to drink. It runs back like an embayment into the close-growing +scrub, and as the trail can be distinguished debouching at its upper +end, the naturalist has no doubt that these joyous gentry are +approaching in that direction. + +And so are they--a singular cavalcade, consisting of some thirty +individuals on horseback; for all are mounted. Two are riding side by +side, some little way ahead of the others, who follow also in twos--the +trail being sufficiently wide to admit of the double formation. For the +Indians of _pampa_ and prairie--unlike their brethren of the forest, do +not always travel "single file." On horseback it would string them out +too far for either convenience or safety. Indeed, these horse Indians +not unfrequently march in column, and in line. + +With the exception of the pair spoken of as being in the advance, all +the others are costumed, and their horses caparisoned, nearly alike. +Their dress is of the simplest and scantiest kind--a hip-cloth swathing +their bodies from waist to mid-thigh, closely akin to the "breech-clout" +of the Northern Indian, only of a different material. Instead of +dressed buckskin, the loin covering of the Chaco savage is a strip of +white cotton cloth, some of wool in bands of bright colour having a very +pretty effect. But, unlike their red brethren of the North, they know +nought of either leggings or moccasin. Their mild climate calls not for +such covering; and for foot protection against stone, thorn, or thistle, +the Chaco Indian rarely ever sets sole to the ground--his horse's back +being his home habitually. + +Those now making way through the wood show limbs naked from thigh to +toe, smooth as moulded bronze, and proportioned as if cut by the chisel +of Praxiteles. Their bodies above also nude; but here again differing +from the red men of the prairies. No daub and disfigurement of chalk, +charcoal, vermilion, or other garish pigment; but clear skins showing +the lustrous hue of health, of bronze or brown amber tint, adorned only +with some stringlets of shell beads, or the seeds of a plant peculiar to +their country. + +All are mounted on steeds of small size, but sinewy and perfect in +shape, having long tails and flowing manes; for the barbarism of the +clipping shears has not yet reached these barbarians of the Chaco. + +Nor yet know they, or knowing, they use not saddle. A piece of ox-hide, +or scrap of deer-skin serves them for its substitute; and for bridle a +raw-hide rope looped around the under jaw, without head-strap, bittless, +and single reined, enabling them to check or guide their horses, as if +these were controlled by the cruellest of curbs, or the jaw-breaking +Mameluke bitt. + +As they file forth two by two into the open ground, it is seen that +there is some quality and fashion common to all; to wit, that they are +all youths--not any of them over twenty--and that they wear their hair +cropped in front, showing a square line across the forehead, but left +untouched on the crown and back of the head. There it falls in full +profuseness, reaching to the hips, and in the case of some mingling with +the tails, of their horses. + +Two, however, are notably different from the rest; they riding in the +advance, with a horse's length or so of interval between them and their +following. One of the two differs only in the style of his dress; being +an Indian as the others, and, like them, quite a youth, to all +appearance the youngest of the party. Yet also their chief, by reason +of his richer and grander dress; his attire being of the most +picturesque and costly kind worn by the Chaco savages. Covering his +body, from the breast to half-way down his thighs, is a sort of +loosely-fitting tunic of white cotton stuff. Sleeveless, it leaves his +arm bare from nigh the shoulder to the wrist, around which glistens a +bracelet with the sheen of solid gold. His limbs also are bare, save a +sort of gartering below the knee, of shell and bead embroidery. On his +head is a fillet band ornamented in like manner, with bright plumes, set +vertically around it--the tail-feathers of the _guacamaya_, one of the +most superb of South American parrots. But the most distinctive article +of his apparel is his _manta_, a sort of cloak of the _poncho_ kind, +hanging loosely behind his back, but altogether different from the +well-known garment of the gauchos, which is usually woven from wool. +That on the shoulders of the young Indian is of no textile fabric, but +the skin of a fawn, tanned and bleached to the softness and whiteness of +a dress kid glove, the outward side being elaborately feather-worked in +flowers and patterns, the feathers obtained from many a bird of gay +plumage. + +Of form perfectly symmetrical, the young Indian, save for his +complexion, would seem a sort of Apollo, or Hyperion on horseback; while +he who rides alongside him, withal that his skin is white, or once was, +might well be likened to the Satyr. A man over thirty years of age, +tall, and of tough, sinewy frame, with a countenance of the most +sinister cast, dressed gaucho fashion, with the wide petticoat breeches +lying loose about his limbs, a striped _poncho_ over his shoulders, and +a gaudy silken kerchief tied turban-like around his temples. But no +gaucho he, nor individual of any honest calling: instead, a criminal of +deepest dye, experienced in every sort of villainy. For this man is +Rufino Valdez, well-known in Assuncion as one of Francia's familiars, +and more than suspected of being one of his most dexterous _assassins_. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +AN OLD ENEMY IN A NEW PLACE. + +Could the hunter-naturalist but know what has really occurred in the +Tovas tribe, and the nature of the party now approaching, he would not +stay an instant longer on the banks of that branch stream; instead, +hasten back home with his child fast as their animals could carry them, +and once at the estancia, make all haste to get away from it, taking +every member of his family along with him. But he has no idea that +anything has happened hostile to him or his, nor does he as yet see the +troop of travellers, whose merry voices are making the woods ring around +them: for, on the moment of his first hearing them, they were at a good +distance, and are some considerable time before coming in sight. At +first, he had no thought of retreating, nor making any effort to place +himself and his child in concealment. And for two reasons: one, because +ever since taking up his abode in the Chaco, under the protection of +Naraguana, he has enjoyed perfect security, as also the consciousness of +it. Therefore, why should he be alarmed now? As a second reason for +his not feeling so, an encounter with men, in the mood of those to whom +he is listening, could hardly be deemed dangerous. It may be but the +Tovas chief and his people, on return to the town they had abandoned; +and, in all likelihood, it is they. So, for a time, thinks he. + +But, again, it may not be; and if any other Indians--if a band of +Anguite, or Guaycurus, both at enmity with the Tovas--then would they be +also enemies to him, and his position one of great peril. And now once +more reflecting on the sudden, as unexplained, disappearance of the +latter from their old place of residence--to say the least, a matter of +much mystery--bethinking himself, also, that he is quite _twenty_ miles +from his estancia, and for any chances of retreat, or shifts for safety, +worse off than if he were alone, he at length, and very naturally, feels +an apprehension stealing over him. Indeed, not stealing, nor coming +upon him slowly, but fast gathering, and in full force. At all events, +as he knows nothing of who or what the people approaching may be, it is +an encounter that should, if possible, be avoided. Prudence so +counsels, and it is but a question how this can best be done. Will they +turn heads round, and go galloping back? Or ride in among the bushes, +and there remain under cover till the Indians have passed? If these +should prove to be Tovas, they could discover themselves and join them; +if not, then take the chances of travelling behind them, and getting +back home unobserved. + +The former course he is most inclined to; but glancing up the bank, for +he is still on the water's edge, he sees that the sloping path he had +descended, and by which he must return, is exposed to view from the +opposite side of the stream, to a distance of some two hundred yards. +To reach the summit of the slope, and get under cover of the trees +crowning it, would take some time. True, only a minute or two; but that +may be more than he can spare, since the voices seem now very near, and +those he would shun must show themselves almost immediately. And to be +seen retreating would serve no good purpose; instead, do him a damage, +by challenging the hostility of the Indians, if they be not Tovas. Even +so, were he alone, well-horsed as he believes himself to be--and in +reality is--he would risk the attempt, and, like enough, reach his +estancia in safety. But encumbered with Francesca on her diminutive +steed, he knows they would have no chance in a chase across the _pampa_, +with the red Centaurs pursuing. Therefore, not for an instant, or only +one, entertains he thought of flight. In a second he sees it would not +avail them, and decides on the other alternative--concealment. He has +already made a hasty inspection of the ground near by, and sees, +commencing at no great distance off, and running along the water's edge, +a grove of _sumac_ trees which, with their parasites and other plants +twining around their stems and branches, form a complete labyrinth of +leaves. The very shelter he is in search of; and heading his horse +towards it, at the same time telling Francesca to follow, he rides in by +the first opening that offers. Fortunately he has struck upon a _tapir_ +path, which makes it easier for them to pass through the underwood, and +they are soon, with their horses, well screened from view. Perhaps, +better would it have been for them had they continued on, without making +any stop, though not certain this, for it might have been all one in the +end. As it is, still in doubt, half under the belief that he may be +retreating from an imaginary danger--running away from friends instead +of foes--as soon as well within the thicket, Halberger reins up again, +at a point where he commands a view of the ford as it enters on the +opposite side of the stream. A little glade gives room for the two +animals to stand side by side, and drawing Francesca's pony close up to +his saddle-flap, he cautions her to keep it there steadily, as also to +be silent herself. The girl needs not such admonition. No simple child +she, accustomed only to the safe ways of cities and civilised life; but +one knowing a great deal of that which is savage; and young though she +is, having experienced trials, vicissitudes and dangers. That there is +danger impending over them now, or the possibility of it, she is quite +as conscious as her father, and equally observant of caution; therefore, +she holds her pony well in hand, patting it on the neck to keep it +quiet. + +They have not long to stay before seeing what they half expected to +see--a party of Indians. Just as they have got well fixed in place, +with some leafy branches in front forming a screen over their faces, at +the same time giving them an aperture to peep through, the dusky +cavalcade shows its foremost files issuing out from the bushes on the +opposite side of the stream. Though still distant--at least, a quarter +of a mile--both father and daughter can perceive that they are Indians; +mounted, as a matter of course, for they could not and did not, expect +so see such afoot in the Chaco. But Francesca's eyes are sharper +sighted than those of her father, and at the first glance she makes out +more--not only that it is a party of Indians, but these of the Tovas +tribe. The feathered _manta_ of the young chief, with its bright gaudy +sheen, has caught her eye, and she knows whose shoulders it should be +covering. + +"Yes, father," she says, in whisper, as soon as sighting it. "They are +the Tovas! See yonder! one of the two leading--that's Aguara." + +"Oh! then, we've nothing to fear," rejoins her father, with a feeling of +relief. "So, Francesca, we may as well ride back out and meet them. I +suppose it is, as I've been conjecturing; the tribe is returning to its +old quarters. I wonder where they've been, and why so long away. But +we shall now learn all about it. And we'll have their company with us, +as far as their _talderia_; possibly all the way home, as, like enough, +Naraguana will come on with us to the estancia. In either case--ha! +what's that. As I live, a white man riding alongside Aguara! Who can +_he_ be?" + +Up to this, Halberger has neither touched his horse nor stirred a step; +no more she, both keeping to the spot they had chosen for observation. +And both now alike eagerly scan the face of the man, supposed to be +white. + +Again the eyes of the child, or her instincts, are keener and quicker +than those of the parent; or, at all events, she is the first to speak, +announcing a recognition. + +"Oh, papa!" she exclaims, still in whispers, "it's that horrid man who +used to come to our house at Assuncion--him mamma so much disliked--the +Senor Rufino." + +"Hish!" mutters the father, interrupting both with speech and gesture; +then adds, "keep tight hold of the reins; don't let the pony budge an +inch!" + +Well may he thus caution, for what he now sees is that he has good +reason to fear; a man he knows to be his bitter enemy--one who, during +the years of his residence in Paraguay, had repeatedly been the cause of +trouble to him, and done many acts of injury and insult--the last and +latest offered to his young wife. For it was Rufino Valdez who had been +employed by the Dictator previously to approach her on his behalf. + +And now Ludwig Halberger beholds the base villain in company with the +Tovas Indians--his own friends, as he had every reason to suppose them-- +riding side by side with the son of their chief! What can it mean? + +Halberger's first thought is that Valdez may be their prisoner; for he, +of course, knows of the hostility existing between them and the +Paraguayans, and remembers that, in his last interview with Naraguana, +the aged cacique was bitter as ever against the Paraguayan people. But +no; there is not the slightest sign of the white man being guarded, +bound, or escorted. Instead, he is riding unconstrained, side by side +with the young Tovas chief, evidently in amicable relations--the two +engaged in a conversation to all appearance of the most confidential +kind! + +Again Halberger asks, speaking within himself, what it can mean? and +again reflecting endeavours to fathom the mystery: for so that strange +juxtaposition appears to him. Can it be that the interrupted treaty of +peace has been renewed, and friendship re-established between Naraguana +and the Paraguayan Dictator? Even now, Valdez may be on a visit to the +Tovas tribe on that very errand--a commissioner to arrange new terms of +intercourse and amity? It certainly appears as if something of the kind +had occurred. And what the Prussian now sees, taken in connection with +the abandonment of the village alike matter of mystery--leads him to +more than half-suspect there has. For again comes up the question, why +should the Tovas chief have gone off without giving him warning? So +suddenly, and not a word! Surely does it seem as if there has been +friendship betrayed, and Naraguana's protection withdrawn. If so, it +will go hard with him, Halberger; for well knows he, that in such a +treaty there would be little chance of his being made an object of +special amnesty. Instead, one of its essential claims would sure be, +the surrendering up himself and his family. But would Naraguana be so +base? No; he cannot believe it, and this is why he is as much surprised +as puzzled at seeing Valdez when he now sees him. + +In any case things have a forbidding look, and the man's presence there +bodes no good to him. More like the greatest evil; for it may be death +itself. Even while sitting upon his horse, with these reflections +running through his mind--which they do, not as related, but with the +rapidity of thought itself--he feels a presentiment of that very thing. +Nay, something more than a presentiment, something worse--almost the +certainty that his life is near its end! For as the complete Indian +cohort files forth from among the bushes, and he takes note of how it is +composed--above all observing the very friendly relations between Valdez +and the young chief--he knows it must affect himself to the full danger +of his life. Vividly remembers he the enmity of Francia's _familiar_, +too deep and dire to have been given up or forgotten. He remembers, +too, of Valdez being noted as a skilled _rastrero_, or guide--his +reputed profession. Against such a one the step he has taken to conceal +himself is little likely to serve him. Are not the tracks of his horse, +with those of the pony, imprinted in the soft mud by the water's edge +where they had halted? These will not be passed over by the Indians, or +Valdez, without being seen and considered. Quite recent too! They must +be observed, and as sure will they be followed up to where he and his +child are in hiding. A pity he has not continued along the _tapir_ +path, still further and far away! Alas! too late now; the delay may be +fatal. + +In a very agony of apprehension thus reflecting, Ludwig Halberger with +shoulders stooped over his saddle-bow and head bent in among the +branches, watches the Indian cavalcade approaching the stream's bank; +the nearer it comes, the more certain he that himself and his child are +in deadliest danger. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +VALDEZ THE "VAQUEANO." + +To solve the seeming enigma of Rufino Valdez travelling in the company +of the Tovas Indians, and on friendly terms with their young chief--for +he is so--it will be necessary to turn back upon time, and give some +further account of the _vaqueano_ himself, and his villainous master; as +also to tell why Naraguana and his people abandoned their old place of +abode, with other events and circumstances succeeding. Of these the +most serious has been the death of Naraguana himself. For the aged +cacique is no more; having died only a few days after his latest visit +paid to his palefaced protege. + +Nor were his last moments spent at the _tolderia_, now abandoned. His +death took place at another town of his people some two hundred miles +from this, and farther into the interior of the Chaco; a more ancient +residence of the Tovas tribe--in short, their "Sacred city" and +burying-place. For it is the custom of these Indians when any one of +them dies--no matter when, where, and how, whether by the fate of war, +accident in the chase, disease, or natural decay--to have the body borne +to the sacred town, and there deposited in a cemetery containing the +graves of their fathers. Not graves, as is usual, underground; but +scaffolds standing high above it--such being the mode of Tovas +interment. + +Naraguana's journey to this hallowed spot--his last in life--had been +made not on horseback, but in a _litera_, borne by his faithful braves. +Seized with a sudden illness, and the presentiment that his end was +approaching, with a desire to die in the same place where he had been +born, he gave commands for immediate removal thither--not only of +himself, but everything and even body belonging to his tribe. It was +but the work of a day; and on the next the old settlement was left +forsaken, just as the hunter-naturalist has found it. + +Had the latter been upon the banks of that branch stream just three +weeks before, he would there have witnessed one of those spectacles +peculiar to the South American pampas; as the prairies of the North. +That is the crossing of a river by an entire Indian tribe, on the move +from one encampment, or place of residence, to another. The men on +horseback swimming or wading their horses; the women and children +ferried over in skin boats--those of the Chaco termed _pelotas_--with +troops of dogs intermingled in the passage; all amidst a _fracas_ of +shouts, the barking of dogs, neighing of horses, and shrill screaming of +the youngsters, with now and then a peal of merry laughter, as some +ludicrous mishap befalls one or other of the party. No laugh, however, +was heard at the latest crossing of that stream by the Tovas. The +serious illness of their chief forbade all thought of merriment; so +serious, that on the second day after reaching the sacred town he +breathed his last; his body being carried up and deposited upon that +aerial tomb where reposed the bleaching bones of many other caciques-- +his predecessors. + +His sudden seizure, with the abrupt departure following, accounts for +Halberger having had no notice of all this--Naraguana having been +delirious in his dying moments, and indeed for some time before. And +his death has caused changes in the internal affairs of the Tovas tribe, +attended with much excitement. For the form of government among these +Chaco savages is more republican than monarchical; each new cacique +having to receive his authority not from hereditary right, but by +election. His son, Aguara, however, popular with the younger warriors +of the tribe, carried the day, and has become Naraguana's successor. + +Even had the hunter-naturalist been aware of these events, he might not +have seen in them any danger to himself. For surely the death of +Naraguana would not affect his relations with the Tovas tribe; at least +so far as to losing their friendship, or bringing about an estrangement. +Not likely would such have arisen, but for certain other events of more +sinister bearing, transpiring at the same period; to recount which it is +necessary for us to return still further upon time, and again go back to +Paraguay and its Dictator. + +Foiled in his wicked intent, and failing to discover whither his +intended victims had fled, Francia employed for the finding of them one +of his minions--this man of most ill repute, Rufino Valdez. It did not +need the reward offered to secure the latter's zeal; for, as stated, he +too had his own old grudge against the German, brought about by a still +older and more bitter hostility to Halberger's right hand man--Gaspar, +the gaucho. With this double stimulus to action, Valdez entered upon +the prosecution of his search, after that of the soldiers had failed. +At first with confident expectation of a speedy success; for it had not +yet occurred to either him or his employer that the fugitives could have +escaped clear out of the country; a thing seemingly impossible with its +frontiers so guarded. It was only after Valdez had explored every nook +and corner of Paraguayan territory in search of them, all to no purpose, +that Francia was forced to the conclusion, they were no longer within +his dominions. But, confiding in his own interpretation of +international law, and the rights of extradition, he commissioned his +emissary to visit the adjacent States, and there continue inquiry for +the missing ones. That law of his own making, already referred to, led +him to think he could demand the Prussian's wife to be returned to +Paraguay, whatever claim he might have upon the Prussian himself. + +For over two years has Rufino Valdez been occupied in this bootless +quest, without finding the slightest trace of the fugitives, or word as +to their whereabouts. He has travelled down the river to Corrientes, +and beyond to Buenos Ayres, and Monte Video at the La Plata's mouth. +Also up northward to the Brazilian frontier fort of Coimbra; all the +while without ever a thought of turning his steps towards the Chaco! + +Not so strange, though, his so neglecting this noted ground; since he +had two sufficient reasons. The first, his fear of the Chaco savages, +instinctive to every Paraguayan; the second, his want of faith, shared +by Francia himself, that Halberger had fled thither. Neither could for +a moment think of a white man seeking asylum in the Gran Chaco; for +neither knew of the friendship existing between the hunter-naturalist +and the Tovas chief. + +It was only after a long period spent in fruitless inquiries, and while +sojourning at Coimbra that the _vaqueano_ first found traces of those +searched for; there learning from some Chaco Indians on a visit to the +fort--that a white man with his wife, children, and servants, had +settled near a _tolderia_ of the Tovas, on the banks of the Pilcomayo +river. Their description, as given by these Indians--who were not +Tovas, but of a kindred tribe--so exactly answered to the +hunter-naturalist and his family, that Valdez had no doubt of its being +they. And hastily returning to Paraguay, he communicated what he had +been told to the man for whom he was acting. + +"El Supremo," overjoyed at the intelligence, promised to double the +reward for securing the long-lost runaways. A delicate and difficult +matter still; for there was yet the hostility of the Tovas to contend +against. But just at this crisis, as if Satan had stepped in to assist +his own sort, a rumour reaches Assuncion of Naraguana's death; and as +the rancour had arisen from a personal affront offered to the chief +himself, Francia saw it would be a fine opportunity for effecting +reconciliation, as did also his emissary. Armed with this confidence, +his old enmity to Halberger and gaucho, ripe and keen as ever, Valdez +declared himself willing to risk his life by paying a visit to the Tovas +town, and, if possible, induce these Indians to enter into a new +treaty--one of its terms to be their surrendering up the white man, who +had been so long the guest of their deceased cacique. + +Fully commissioned and furnished with sufficient funds--gold coin which +passes current among the savages of the Chaco, as with civilised +people--the plenipotentiary had started off, and made his way up the +Pilcomayo, till reaching the old town of the Tovas. Had Halberger's +estancia stood on the river's bank, the result might have been +different. But situated at some distance back, Valdez saw it not in +passing, and arrived at the Indian village to find it, as did the +hunter-naturalist himself, deserted. An experienced traveller and +skilled tracker, however, he had no difficulty in following the trail of +the departed people, on to their other town; and it was the track of his +horse on the way thither, Halberger has observed on the edge of the +influent stream--as too well he now knows. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +A COMPACT BETWEEN SCOUNDRELS. + +What the upshot of Valdez's errand as commissioner to the Tovas tribe +may be told in a few words. That he has been successful, in some way, +can be guessed from his being seen in close fellowship with him who is +now their chief. For, otherwise, he would not be there with them or +only as a prisoner. Instead, he is, as he appears, the accepted friend +of Aguara, however false the friendship. And the tie which has knit +them together is in keeping with the character of one, if not both. All +this brought about without any great difficulty, or only such as was +easily overcome by the Paraguayan plenipotentiary. Having reached the +Tovas town--that where the tribe is now in permanent residence--only a +day or two after Naraguana's death, he found the Indians in the midst of +their lamentations; and, through their hearts rendered gentle by grief, +received friendly reception. This, and the changed _regime_, offered a +fine opportunity for effecting his purpose, of which the astute +commissioner soon availed himself. The result, a promise of renewal of +the old peace treaty; which he has succeeded in obtaining, partly by +fair words, but as much by a profuse expenditure of the coin with which +Francia had furnished him. This agreed to by the elders of the tribe; +since they had to be consulted. But without a word said about their +late chiefs protege--the hunter-naturalist--or aught done affecting him. +For the Paraguayan soon perceived, that the _sagamores_ would be true +to the trust Naraguana had left; in his last coherent words enjoining +them to continue protection to the stranger, and hold him, as his, +unharmed. + +So far the elders in council; and the astute commissioner, recognising +the difficulty, not to say danger, of touching on this delicate subject, +said nothing to them about it. + +For all, he has not left the matter in abeyance, instead, has spoken of +it to other ears, where he knew he would be listened to with more safety +to himself--the ears of Aguara. For he had not been long in the Tovas +town without making himself acquainted with the character of the new +cacique, as also his inclinings--especially those relating to Francesca +Halberger. And that some private understanding has been established +between him and the young Tovas chief is evident from the conversation +they are now carrying on. + +"You can keep the _muchachita_ at your pleasure," says Valdez, having, +to all appearance, settled certain preliminaries. "All my master wants +is, to vindicate the laws of our country, which this man Halberger has +outraged. As you know yourself, Senor Aguara, one of our statutes is +that no foreigner who marries a Paraguayan woman may take her out of the +country without permission of the President--our executive chief. Now +this man is not one of our people, but a stranger--_a gringo_--from far +away over the big waters; while the Senora, his wife, is Paraguayan, +bred and born. Besides, he stole her away in the night, like a thief, +as he is." + +Naraguana would not tamely have listened to such discourse. Instead, +the old chief, loyal to his friendship, would have indignantly repelled +the allegations against his friend and protege. As it is, they fall +upon the ear of Naraguana's son without his offering either rebuke or +protest. + +Still, he seems in doubt as to what answer he should make, or what +course he ought to pursue in the business between them. + +"What would you have me do, Senor Rufino?" he asks in a patois of +Spanish, which many Chaco Indians can speak; himself better than common, +from his long and frequent intercourse with Halberger's family. "What +want you?" + +"I don't want you to do anything," rejoins the _vaqueano_. "If you're +so squeamish about giving offence to him you call your father's friend, +you needn't take any part in the matter, or at all compromise yourself. +Only stand aside, and allow the law I've just spoken of to have +fulfilment." + +"But how?" + +"Let our President send a party of his soldiers to arrest those +runaways, and carry them back whence they came. Now that you've +proposed to renew the treaty with us, and are hereafter to be our +allies--and, I hope, fast friends--it is only just and right you should +surrender up those who are our enemies. If you do, I can say, as his +trusted representative, that El Supremo will heap favours, and bestow +rich presents on the Tovas tribe; above all, on its young cacique--of +whom I've heard him speak in terms of the highest praise." + +Aguara, a vain young fellow, eagerly drinks in the fulsome flattery, his +eyes sparkling with delight at the prospect of the gifts thus promised. +For he is as covetous of wealth as he is conceited about his personal +appearance. + +"But," he says, thinking of a reservation, "would you want us to +surrender them all? Father, mother--" + +"No, not all," rejoins the ruffian, interrupting. "There is one," he +continues, looking askant at the Indian, with the leer of a demon, "one, +I take it, whom the young Tovas chief would wish to retain as an +ornament to his court. Pretty creature the _nina_ was, when I last saw +her; and I have no doubt still is, unless your Chaco sun has made havoc +with her charms. She had a cousin about her own age, by name Cypriano, +who was said to be very fond of her; and rumour had it around Assuncion, +that they were being brought up for one another." + +Aguara's brow blackens, and his dark Indian eyes seem to emit sparks of +fire. + +"Cypriano shall never have her!" he exclaims in a tone of angry +determination. + +"How can you help it, amigo?" interrogates his tempter. "That is, +supposing the two are inclined for one another. As you know, her father +is not only a paleface, but _a gringo_, with prejudices of blood far +beyond us Paraguayans, who are half-Indian ourselves. Ah! and proud of +it too. Being such, he would never consent to give his daughter in +marriage to a red man--make a _squaw_ of her, as he would scornfully +call it. No, not even though it were the grandest cacique in the Chaco. +He would see her dead first." + +"Indeed!" exclaims the Indian, with a disdainful toss of the head. + +"Indeed, yes," asseverates Valdez. "And whether they remain under your +protection, or be taken back to Paraguay, 'twill be all the same as +regards the senorita. There's but one way I know of to hinder her from +becoming the wife of her cousin Cypriano, and that is--" + +"What?" impatiently asks Aguara. + +"To separate them. Let father, mother, son, and nephew be taken back to +where they belong; the _nina_ to stay behind." + +"But how can that be done?" + +"You mean without your showing your hand in it?" asks Valdez, in a +confidential whisper. + +"I do. For know, Senor Rufino, that, though I'm now chief of our tribe, +and those we have with us here will do as I bid them--obey me in +anything--still the elders have control, and might make trouble if I did +aught to injure the friend of my late father. I am not free, and dare +not act as you propose." + +"_Carramba_! you needn't act at all, as I've already told you. Only +stand aside, and let others do the acting. 'Twill be easy enough. But +give your consent to my bringing a pack of our Paraguayan wolves to this +fold your father has so carefully shepherded, and I'll answer for +sorting out the sheep we want to take, and leaving the lamb you wish +left. Then you and yours can come opportunely up, too late for +protecting the old ram and dam, but in time to rescue the bleating +lambkin, and bear her away to a place of safety. Your own toldo, Senor +Aguara; where, take my word for't, no one will ever come to inquire +after, much less reclaim her. You consent?" + +"Speak low!" cautions the wily Indian, casting a glance over his +shoulders as one willing to do a wicked deed, but without desiring it +known. "Don't let them hear us. _You have my consent_." + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +A RED-HANDED RUFFIAN. + +Just as the young cacique has yielded to the tempter, surrendering his +last scruple of conscience, his horse dips hoof in the stream, that of +the Paraguayan plunging into it at the same time. Knowing the ford +well, and that it is shallow, with a firm bottom, they ride boldly on; +their followers straggled out behind, these innocent of the foul +conspiracy being hatched so near; still keeping up their rollicky mirth, +and flinging about _jeux d'esprit_ as the spray drops are tossed from +the fetlocks of their wading horses. + +It is a popular though erroneous belief, that the red men of America are +of austere and taciturn habit. The older ones may be at times, but even +these not always. Instead, as a rule they are given to jocularity and +fun; the youth brimful of it as the street boys of any European city. +At least one half of their diurnal hours is spent by them in play and +pastimes; for from those of the north we have borrowed both Polo and La +Crosse; while horse-racing is as much their sport as ours; and archery +more. + +Not strange, then, that the _jeunesse doree_ of the Tovas, escorting +their youthful cacique, and seeing him occupied with the paleface who +has been on a visit to their town, take no heed of what passes between +these two, but abandon themselves to merriment along the march. No more +is it strange that Aguara, engrossed with the subject of conversation +between him and the _vaqueano_, leaves them free to their frollicking. + +Nothing occurs to change the behaviour either of the two who are in +front, or those following, until the horses of the former have forded +the stream, and stepped out on the bank beyond. Then the Paraguayan, as +said, a skilled tracker and cunning as a fox, chancing to lower his eyes +to the ground, observes upon it several hoof-marks of a horse. These at +once fix his attention; for not only are they fresh--to all appearance +made but the moment before--but the horse that made them must have been +_shod_. + +While in the act of verifying this observation, other hoof-prints come +under his eye, also shod, but much smaller, being the tracks of a pony. +Recent too, evidently made at the same time as the horse's. He has no +need to point them out to the young Indian, who, trained to such craft +from infancy upward, has noted them soon as he, and with equally quick +intuitiveness is endeavouring to interpret their significance. + +Succeeding in this: for both the horse's track and that of the pony are +known to, and almost instantly recognised by him. He has not lived two +years in proximity to the estancia of Ludwig Halberger, all the while in +friendly intercourse with the naturalist and his family, without taking +note of everything; and can tell the particular track of every horse in +its stables. Above all is he familiar with the diminutive hoof-marks of +Francesca's pretty pony, which he has more than once trailed across the +_campo_, in the hope of having a word with its rider. Perceiving them +now, and so recently made, he gives out an ejaculation of pleased +surprise; then looks around, as though expecting to see the pony itself, +with its young mistress upon its back. There is no one in sight, +however, save the _vaqueano_ and his own followers; the latter behind, +halted by command, some of them still in the water, so that they may not +ride over the shod-tracks, and obliterate them. + +All this while Halberger and his child are within twenty paces of the +spot, and seated in their saddles, as when they first drew up side by +side. Screened by the trees, they see the Indians, themselves +unobserved, while they can distinctly hear every word said. Only two of +the party speak aloud, the young cacique and his paleface companion; +their speech, of course, relating to the newly-discovered "sign." + +After dismounting, and for a few seconds examining it, Valdez leaps back +into his saddle with a show of haste, as if he would at once start off +upon the trail of horse and pony. + +"There have been only the two here--that's plain," he says. "Father and +daughter, you think? What a pity we didn't get up in time to bid +`good-day' to them! 'Twould have simplified matters much. You'd then +have had your young chick to carry to the cage you intend for it, +without the mother bird to make any bother or fluttering in your face; +while I might have executed my commission sooner than expected." + +"_Carramba_!" he continues after a short while spent in considering. +"They can't have gone very far as yet. You say it's quite twenty miles +to the place where the _gringo_ has his headquarters. If so, and +they've not been in a great hurry to get home--which like enough the +girl would, since her dear Cypriano don't appear to be along--we may +come up with them by putting on speed. Let us after them at once! What +say you?" + +The young Indian, passive in the hands of the older and more hardened +sinner, makes neither objection nor protest. Instead, stung by the +allusion to "dear Cypriano," he is anxious as the other to come up with +the pony and its rider. So, without another word, he springs back upon +his horse, declaring his readiness to ride on. + +With eyes directed downward, they keep along the return tracks; having +already observed that these come no farther than the ford, and turn back +by the water's edge-- + +"Aha!" exclaims the _vaqueano_, pulling up again ere he has proceeded +three lengths of his horse; "they've left the trail here, and turned off +up stream! That wouldn't be their route home, would it?" + +"No," answers Aguara. "Their nearest way's along the river, down as far +as our old _tolderia_. After that--" + +"Sh!" interrupts the Paraguayan, leaning over, and speaking in a +cautious whisper, "Did you not hear something? Like the chinking of a +bitt curb? I shouldn't wonder if they're in among those bushes. +Suppose you stay here and keep watch along the bank, while I go and beat +up that bit of cover?" + +"Just as it please you," assents the young cacique, unresistingly. + +"Give me two or three of your fellows along. Not that I have any fear +to encounter the _gringo_ alone--poor weak creature, still wearing his +green spectacles, I suppose. Far from it. But still there's no harm in +having help, should he attempt to give trouble. Besides, I'll want some +one to look after the _muchachita_!" + +"Take as many as you wish." + +"Oh! two will be sufficient; that pair nearest us." + +He points to the foremost file of the troop, two who are a little older +than their friends, as also of more hardened and sinister aspect. For, +short as has been his stay among them, the subtle emissary has taken the +measure of many members of the tribe; and knows something of the two he +thus designates. His gold has made them his friends and allies; in +short, gained them over to him as good for anything he may call upon +them to do. + +Aguara having signified assent, a gesture brings them up; and, at a +whispered word from the _vaqueano_ himself, they fall in behind him. + +Heading his horse for the _sumac_ thicket he is soon at its edge, there +seeing what rejoices him--the tracks of both horse and pony passing into +it. He has reached the spot where Halberger turned in along the _tapir_ +path. Parting the leaves with a long spear--for he is so armed--he +rides in also, the two Indians after. And just as the tails of their +horses disappear among the leaves, Aguara, who has kept his place, hears +another horse neighing within the thicket at a point farther off. Then +there is a quick trampling of hooves, followed by a hurried rush, and +the swishing of bent branches, as the _vaqueano_ and his two aides dash +on through the _sumacs_. + +The young cacique and his followers continuing to listen, soon after +hear shouts--the voices of men in angry exclamation--mingling with them +the shriller treble of a girl's. Then a shot, quick followed by a +second, and a third; after which only the girl's voice is heard, but now +in lamentation. Soon, however, it is hushed, and all over--everything +silent as before. + +The young Tovas chief sits upon his horse with heart audibly beating. +He has no doubt--cannot have--as to who were the pursued ones; no more, +that they have been overtaken. But with what result? Has the +_vaqueano_ killed both father and daughter? Or were the shots fired by +Halberger, killing Valdez himself and the two who went with him? No; +that cannot be; else why should the girl's lamenting cries be heard +afterwards? But then again, why have they ceased so suddenly? + +While thus anxiously conjecturing, he again hears the trampling of +horses among the trees; this time evidently in return towards him. And +soon after sees the horses themselves, with their riders--four of them. +Three are the same as late left him, but looking differently. The +Paraguayan has one arm hanging down by his side, to all appearance +broken, with blood dripping from the tips of his fingers; while the +steel blade of his spear, borne in the other, is alike reddened. And +there is blood elsewhere--streaming down the breast of one of the young +Indians who seems to have difficulty in keeping upon his horse's back. +The fourth individual in the returning cavalcade is a young girl, with a +cloth tied over her head, as if to hinder her from crying out; seated +upon the back of a pony, this led by the Indian who is still unhurt. + +At a glance, Aguara sees it is Francesca Halberger, though he needs not +seeing her to know that. For he had already recognised her voice--well +knew it, even in its wailing. + +"Her father--what of him?" he asks, addressing Valdez, soon as the +latter is up to him, and speaking in undertone. + +"No matter what," rejoins the ruffian, with a demoniac leer. "The +father is my affair, and he has come very near making it an ugly one for +me. Look at this!" he continues, indicating the left arm which hangs +loose by his side. "And at that!" he adds, glancing up to the point of +his spear. + +"Blood on both, as you see. So, Senor Aguara, you may draw your +deductions. Your affair is yonder," he nods towards the muffled figure +on the pony's back; "and you can now choose between taking her home to +her mother--her handsome cousin as well--or carrying her to _your_ home, +as the queen that is to be of the Tovas." + +The young cacique is not slow in deciding which course to pursue. The +allusion to the "handsome cousin" again excites his jealousy and his +ire. Its influence is irresistible, as sinister; and when he and his +followers take departure from that spot--which they do almost on the +instant--it is to recross the stream, and head their horses homeward-- +Francesca Halberger carried captive along with them. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +GASPAR, THE GAUCHO. + +Over the broad undulating plain which extends between Halberger's house +and the deserted _tolderia_ of the Tovas, a horseman is seen proceeding +in the direction of the latter. He is a man about middle age, of hale, +active appearance, in no way past his prime. Of medium size, or rather +above it, his figure though robust is well proportioned, with strong +sinewy arms and limbs lithe as a panther's, while his countenance, +notwithstanding the somewhat embrowned skin, has a pleasant, honest +expression, evincing good nature as a habitually amiable temper, at the +same time that his features show firmness and decision. A keenly +glancing eye, coal-black, bespeaks for him both courage and +intelligence; while the way in which he sits his horse, tells that he is +not new to the saddle; instead, seeming part of it. His garb is +peculiar, though not to the country which claims him as a native. +Draping down from his shoulders and spreading over the hips of his horse +is a garment of woollen fabric, woven in stripes of gaudy colours, +alternating white, yellow, and red, of no fit or fashion, but simply +kept on by having his head thrust through a slit in its centre. It is a +_poncho_--the universal wrap or cloak of every one who dwells upon the +banks of the La Plata or Parana. Under is another garment, of white +cotton stuff, somewhat resembling Zouave breeches, and called +_calzoneras_, these reaching a little below his knees; while his feet +and ankles are encased in boots of his own manufacture, seamless, since +each was originally the skin of a horse's leg, the hoof serving as heel, +with the shank shortened and gathered into a pucker for the toe. Tanned +and bleached to the whiteness of a wedding glove, with some ornamental +stitching and broidery, it furnishes a foot gear, alike comfortable and +becoming. Spurs, with grand rowels, several inches in diameter, +attached to the heels of these horse-hide boots, give them some +resemblance to the greaves and ankle armour of mediaeval times. + +All this has he whose dress we are describing; while surmounting his +head is a broad-brimmed hat with high-peaked crown and plume of _rheas_ +feathers--underneath all a kerchief of gaudy colour, which draping down +over the nape of his neck protects it from the fervid rays of the Chaco +sun. It is a costume imposing and picturesque; while the caparison of +his horse is in keeping with it. The saddle, called _recado_, is +furnished with several coverings, one upon another, the topmost, +_coronilla_, being of bright-coloured cloth elaborately quilted; while +the bridle of plaited horse-hair is studded with silver joints, from +which depend rings and tassels, the same ornamenting the breast-piece +and neck straps attaching the martingale, in short, the complete +equipment of a _gaucho_. And a gaucho he is--Gaspar, the hero of our +tale. + +It has been already said, that he is in the service of Ludwig Halberger. +So is he, and has been ever since the hunter-naturalist settled in +Paraguay; in the capacity of steward, or as there called _mayor-domo_; a +term of very different signification from the _major-domo_ or +house-steward of European countries, with dress and duties differing as +well. No black coat, or white cravat, wears he of Spanish America, no +spotless stockings, or soft slipper shoes. Instead, a costume more +resembling that of a Cavalier, or Freebooter; while the services he is +called upon to perform require him to be not only a first-class +horseman, but able to throw the lazo, catch a wild cow or colt, and tame +the latter--in short, take a hand at anything. And at almost anything +Gaspar can; for he is man-of-all-work to the hunter-naturalist, as well +as his man of confidence. + +Why he is riding away from the estancia at such an hour--for it is +afternoon--may be guessed from what has gone before. For it is on that +same day, when Halberger and his daughter started off to visit the +Indian village; and as these had not returned soon as promised, the +anxiety of the wife, rendered keen by the presentiment which had +oppressed her at their parting, became at length unbearable; and to +relieve it Gaspar has been despatched in quest of them. + +No better man in all the pampas region, or South America itself, could +have been sent on such an errand. His skill as a tracker is not +excelled by any other gaucho in the Argentine States, from which he +originally came; while in general intelligence, combined with courage, +no one there, or elsewhere, could well be his superior. As the Senora +said her last words to him at parting, and listened to his in return, +she felt reassured. Gaspar was not the man to make delay, or come back +without the missing one. On this day, however, he deviates from his +usual habit, at the same time from the route he ought to take--that +leading direct to the Indian village, whither he knows his master and +young mistress to have gone. For while riding along going at a gentle +canter, a cock "ostrich" starts up before his horse, and soon after the +hen, the two trotting away over the plain to one side. It so chances +that but the day before his master had given him instructions to catch a +male ostrich for some purpose of natural history--the first he should +come across. And here was one, a splendid bird, in full flowing +plumage. This, with an observation made, that the ostriches seem less +shy than is usual with these wary creatures, and are moving away but +slowly, decides him to take after and have a try at capturing the cock. +Unloosing his _bolas_ from the saddle-bow, where he habitually carries +this weapon, and spurring his horse to a gallop, off after them he goes. + +Magnificently mounted, for a gaucho would not be otherwise, he succeeds +in his intent, after a run of a mile or so, getting close enough to the +birds to operate upon them with his _bolas_. Winding these around his +head and launching them, he has the satisfaction of seeing the cock +ostrich go down upon the grass, its legs lapped together tight as if he +had hard spliced them. + +Riding on up to the great bird, now hoppled and without any chance to +get away from him, he makes things more sure by drawing out his knife +and cutting the creature's throat. Then releasing the _bolas_, he +returns them to the place from which he had taken them--on the horn of +his _recado_. This done, he stands over the dead _rhea_, thus +reflecting:-- + +"I wonder what particular part of this beauty--it is a beauty, by the +way, and I don't remember ever having met with a finer bird of the +breed--but if I only knew which one with identical parts the master +wants, it would save me some trouble in the way of packing, and my horse +no little of a load. Just possible the _dueno_ only cares for the +tail-feathers, or the head and beak, or it may be but the legs. Well, +as I can't tell which, there's but one way to make sure about it--that +is, to take the entire carcase along with me. So, go it must." + +Saying this, he lays hold of a leg, and drags the ostrich nearer to his +horse, which all the time stands tranquilly by: for a gaucho's steed is +trained to keep its place, without need of any one having care of it. + +"_Carramba_!" he exclaims, raising the bird from the ground, "what a +weight the thing is! Heavy as a quarter of beef! Now I think on't, it +might have been better if I'd let the beast alone, and kept on without +getting myself into all this bother. Nay, I'm sure it would have been +wiser. What will the Senora say, when she knows of my thus dallying-- +trifling with the commands she gave me? Bah! she won't know anything +about it--and needn't. She will, though, if I stand dallying here. I +mustn't a minute longer. So up, Senor Avertruz, and lie there." + +At which, he hoists the ostrich--by the gauchos called "_avertruz_"--to +the croup of his _recado_; where, after a rapid manipulation of cords, +the bird is made fast, beyond all danger of dropping off. + +This done, he springs upon his horse's back, and then looks out to see +which direction he should now take. A thing not so easily determined; +for in the chase after it, the ostrich had made more than one double; +and, although tolerably familiar with the topography of that plain, the +gaucho is for the time no little confused as to his whereabouts. Nor +strange he should be; since the palm-groves scattered over it are all so +much alike, and there is no high hill, nor any great eminence, to guide +him. Ridges there are, running this way and that; but all only gentle +undulations, with no bold projection, or other land-mark that he can +remember. + +He begins to think he is really strayed, lost; and, believing so, is +angry with himself for having turned out of his path--as the path of his +duty. Angry at the ostrich, too, that tempted him. + +"_Avertruz, maldito_!" he exclaims, terms in the gaucho vernacular +synonymous with "ostrich, be hanged!" adding, as he continues to gaze +hopelessly around, "I wish I'd let the long-legged brute go its way. +Like as not, it'll hinder me going mine, till too late. And if so, +there'll be a pretty tale to tell! _Santissima_! whatever am I to do? +I don't even know the way back to the house; though that wouldn't be any +good if I did. I daren't go there without taking some news with me. +Well; there's only one thing I can do; ride about, and quarter the +pampa, till I see something that'll set me back upon my road." + +In conformity with this intention, he once more puts his horse in +motion, and strikes off over the plain; but he does not go altogether +without a guide, the sun somewhat helping him. He knows that his way to +the Indian village is westward, and as the bright luminary is now +beginning to descend, it points out that direction, so taking his +bearings by it, he rides on. Not far, however, before catching sight of +another object, which enables him to steer his course with greater +precision. This a tree, a grand vegetable giant of the species called +_ombu_, known to every gaucho--beloved, almost held sacred by him, as +affording shade to his sun-exposed and solitary dwelling. The one +Gaspar now sees has no house under its wide-spreading branches; but he +has himself been under them more than once while out on a hunt, and +smoked his _cigarrito_ in their shade. As his eye lights upon it, a +satisfied expression comes over his features, for he knows that the tree +is on the top of a little _loma_, or hill, about half-way between the +estancia and the Indian town, and nearly in the direct route. + +He needs nothing more to guide him now; but instead of riding towards +the tree, he rather turns his back upon it, and starts off in a +different direction. This because he had already passed the _ombu_ +before coming across the ostrich. + +Soon again he is back upon the path from which he had strayed, and +proceeds along it without further interruption, riding at a rapid pace +to make up for the lost time. + +Still, he is far from being satisfied with himself. Although he may +have done that which will be gratifying to his master, there is a +possibility of its displeasing his mistress. Most certainly will it do +this, should he not find the missing ones, and have to go home without +them. But he has no great fear of that; indeed, is not even uneasy. +Why should he be? He knows his master's proclivities, and believes that +he has come across some curious and rare specimens, which take time to +collect or examine, and this it is which has been retarding his return. +Thus reflecting, he continues on, every moment expecting to meet them. +But as there is neither road nor any regular path between the two +places, he needs to keep scanning the plain, lest on their return he may +pass them unobserved. + +But he sees nothing of them till reaching the _tolderia_, and there only +the hoof-marks of his master's horse, with those of his young mistress's +pony, both conspicuous in the dust-covered ground by the doors of the +_toldos_. But on neither does he dwell, for he, too, as were the +others, is greatly surprised to find the place deserted--indeed alarmed, +and for a time sits in his saddle as one half-dazed. + +Only a short while, for he is not the man to give way to long +irresolution, and recovering himself, he rides rapidly about, from +_toldo_ to _toldo_, all over the town, at the same time shouting and +calling out his master's name. + +For answer, he only has the echoes of his own voice, now and then varied +with the howl of a wolf, which, prowling around like himself no doubt +wonders, as he, at the place being abandoned. + +After a hurried examination of the houses, and seeing there is no one +within them, just as Halberger had done, he strikes off on the trail of +the departed inhabitants; and with the sun still high enough to light up +every track on it, he perceives those made by the _dueno's_ horse, and +the more diminutive hoof-prints alongside them. + +On he goes following them up, and in a gallop, for they are so fresh and +clear he has no need to ride slowly. On in the same gait for a stretch +of ten miles, which brings him to the tributary stream at the +crossing-place. He rides down to the water's edge, there to be sorely +puzzled at what he sees--some scores of other horse-tracks recently +made, but turning hither and thither in crowded confusion. + +It calls for all his skill as a _rastrero_, with some considerable time, +to unwind the tangled skein. But he at length succeeds, so far as to +discover that the whole horse troop, to whomsoever belonging, have +recrossed the ford; and crossing it himself, he sees they have gone back +up the Pilcomayo river. Among them is one showing a shod hoof; but he +knows that has not been made by his master's horse, the bar being larger +and broader, with the claw more deeply indented. Besides, he sees not +the pony's tracks--though they are or were there--and have been trodden +out by the ruck of the other animals trampling after. + +The gaucho here turns back; though he intends following the trail +further, when he has made a more careful examination of the sign on the +other side of the stream; and recrossing, he again sets to scrutinising +it. This soon leading him to the place where Halberger entered the +_sumac_ grove. Now the gaucho, entering it also, and following the +_slot_ along the _tapir_ path, at a distance of some three hundred yards +from the crossing, comes out into an open glade, lit up by the last rays +of the setting sun, which fall slantingly through the trees standing +around. There a sight meets his eye, causing the blood at one moment to +run cold through his veins, in the next hot as boiling lava; while from +his lips issue exclamations of mingled astonishment and indignation. +What he sees is a horse, saddled and with the bridle also on, standing +with neck bent down, and head drooped till the nostrils almost touch the +earth. But between them and the ground is a figure extended at full +stretch; the body of a man to all appearance dead; which at a glance the +gaucho knows to be that of his master! + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +A SILENT FELLOW-TRAVELLER. + +Another sun is rising over the Chaco, and its rays, red as the +reflection from a fire, begin to glitter through the stems of the +palm-trees that grow in scattered topes upon the plains bordering the +Pilcomayo. But ere the bright orb has mounted above their crowns, two +horsemen are seen to ride out of the _sumac_ grove, in which Ludwig +Halberger vainly endeavoured to conceal himself from the assassin Valdez +and his savage confederates. + +It is not where any of these entered the thicket that the horsemen are +coming out, but at a point some half-mile further up the branch stream, +and on its higher bank, where it reaches the general level of the upper +plain. Here the _sumac_ trees cover the whole slope from the water's +edge to the crest of the bordering ridge, on this ending abruptly. +Though they stand thinly, and there is room enough for two horsemen to +ride abreast, these are not doing so, but one ahead, and leading the +other's horse by a raw-hide rope attached to the bitt ring. + +In this manner they have ascended the slope, and have now the great +plain before them; treeless, save here and there a tope of palms or a +scattering of willows around some spot where there is water; but the +taller timber is behind them, and soon as they arrive at its edge, he +riding ahead reins up his horse, the other stopping at the same time. + +There is still a belt of bushes between them and the open ground, of +stunted growth, but high enough to hinder their view. To see over them, +the leading horseman stands up in his stirrups, and looks out upon the +plain, his glances directed all around it. These, earnestly +interrogative, tell of apprehension, as of an enemy he might expect to +be there, in short, making a reconnaissance to see if the "coast be +clear." + +That he judges it so is evinced by his settling back into his saddle, +and moving on across the belt of bushes; but again, on the skirt of this +and before issuing out of it, he draws bridle, and once more makes a +survey of the plain. + +By this time, the sun having mounted higher in the heavens, shines full +upon his face, showing it of dark complexion, darker from the +apprehension now clouding it; but of honest cast, and one which would +otherwise be cheerful, since it is the face of Caspar, the gaucho. + +Who the other is cannot be easily told, even with the bright sun beaming +upon him; for his hat, broad-brimmed, is slouched over his forehead, +concealing most part of his countenance. The head itself, oddly, almost +comically, inclined to one side, droops down till the chin nigh touches +his breast. Moreover, an ample cloak, which covers him from neck to +ankles, renders his figure as unrecognisable as his face. With his +horse following that of the gaucho, who leads him at long halter's +reach, he, too, has halted in the outer selvedge of the scrub; still +maintaining the same relative position to the other as when they rode +out from the _sumacs_, and without speaking word or making gesture. In +fact, he stirs not at all, except such motion as is due to the movement +of his horse; but beyond that he neither raises head nor hand, not even +to guide the animal, leaving it to be lead unresistingly. + +Were the gaucho of warlike habits, and accustomed to making predatory +expeditions, he might be taken as returning from one with a captive, +whom he is conducting to some safe place of imprisonment. For just like +this his silent companion appears, either fast strapped to his own +saddle, or who, conquered and completely subdued, has resigned all +thoughts of resistance and hopes of escape. But Caspar is essentially a +man of peace, which makes it improbable that he, behind, is his +prisoner. + +Whatever the relationship between them, the gaucho for the present pays +no attention to the other horseman, neither speaks to nor turns his eye +toward him; for these are now all upon the plain, scanning it from side +to side, and all round as far as he can command view of it. He is not +himself silent, however, though the words to which he gives utterance +are spoken in a low tone, and by way of soliloquy, thus:-- + +"'Twill never do to go back by the river's bank. Whoever the devils +that have done this dastardly thing, they may be still prowling about, +and to meet them would be for me to get served the same as they've +served him, that's sure; so I'd best take another route, though it be a +bit round the corner. Let me see. I think I know a way that should +lead tolerably straight to the estancia without touching the river or +going anywheres near it. I mustn't even travel within sight of it. If +the Tovas have had any hand in this ugly business--and, by the Virgin, I +believe they have, however hard it is to think so--some of them may +still be near, and possibly a party gone back to their old _tolderia_. +I'll have to give that a wide berth anyhow; so to get across this open +stretch without being seen, if there be anyone on it to see me, will +need manoeuvring. As it is, there don't appear to be a soul, that's so +far satisfactory." + +Again he sweeps the grassy expanse with searching glance, his face +brightening up as he observes a flock of ostriches on one side, on the +other a herd of deer--the birds stalking leisurely along, the beasts +tranquilly browsing. Were there Indians upon the plain, it would not be +so. Instead, either one or the other would show excitement. The +behaviour of the dumb creatures imparting to him a certain feeling of +confidence, he says, continuing the soliloquy:-- + +"I think I may venture it. Nay, I must; and there's no help for't. We +have to get home somehow--and soon. Ah! the Senora! poor lady! What +will she be thinking by this time? And what when we get back? _Valga +me Dios_! I don't know how I shall ever be able to break it to her, or +in what way! It will sure drive her out of her senses, and not much +wonder, either. To lose one of them were enough, but both, and--Well, +no use dwelling on it now; besides, there's no time to be lost. I must +start off at once; and, maybe, as I'm riding on, I'll think of some plan +to communicate the sad news to the Senora, without giving her too sudden +a shock. _Pobrecita_!" + +At the pitying exclamation he gives a last interrogative glance over the +plain; then, with a word to his horse, and a touch of the spur, he moves +out into the open, and on; the other animal following, as before, its +rider maintaining the same distance and preserving the self-same +attitude, silent and gestureless as ever! + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +SKULKING BACK. + +While the gaucho and his silent companion were still in halt by the edge +of the _sumac_ wood, another horseman could be seen approaching the +place, but on the opposite side of the stream, riding direct down to the +ford. Descried at any distance, his garb, with the caparison of his +horse--the full gaucho panoply of bitted bridle, breast-plate, _recado_, +and _caronilla_--would tell he is not an Indian. Nor is he; since this +third traveller, so early on the road, is Rufino Valdez. As +commissioner to the Tovas tribe, he has executed the commission with +which he was entrusted, with something besides; and is now on return to +make report to his master, El Supremo, leaving the latter to take such +other steps as may deem desirable. + +The _vaqueano_ has passed the preceding night with the Indians at their +camp, leaving it long before daybreak, though Aguara, for certain +reasons, very much wished him to return with them to their town, and +proposed it. A proposal, for reasons of his own, the cunning Paraguayan +declined, giving excuses that but ill satisfied the young cacique, and +which he rather reluctantly accepted. He could not, however, well +refuse to let Valdez go his way. The man was not a prisoner moreover, +his promise to be soon back, as the bearer of rich presents, was an +argument irresistible; and influenced by this, more than aught else, +Aguara gave him permission to depart. + +The young chief's reasons for wishing to detain him were of a kind +altogether personal. Much as he likes the captive he is carrying with +him, he would rather she had been made captive by other means, and in a +less violent manner. And he is now returning to his tribe, not so +triumphantly, but with some apprehension as to how he will be received +by the elders. What will they say when the truth is told them,--all the +details of the red tragedy just enacted? He would lay the blame, where +most part of it properly belongs, on the shoulders of the Paraguayan, +and, indeed, intends doing so. But he would rather have the latter with +him to meet the storm, should there be such, by explaining in his own +way, why he killed the other white man. For Valdez had already said +something to them of an old hostility between himself and the +hunter-naturalist, knowing that the Tovas, as well as other Chaco +Indians, acknowledge the rights of the _vendetta_. + +But just for the reason Aguara desires to have him along with him, is +the _vaqueano_ inclined to die opposite course; in truth, determined +upon it. Not for the world would he now return to the Tovas town. He +has too much intelligence for that, or too great regard for his safety-- +his very life, which he believes, and with good cause, would be more +than risked, were he again to show himself among a people whose +hospitality he has so outraged. For he knows he as done this, and that +there will surely be that storm of which the young cacique is +apprehensive--a very tempest of indignation among the elders and friends +of the deceased Naraguana, when they hear of the fate which has befallen +the harmless stranger, so long living under their late chiefs +protection. Therefore, notwithstanding the many promises he has made, +not the slightest thought of performing any of them, or even going back +on that trail, has Rufino Valdez. Instead, as he rides down the ford of +the stream he is thinking to himself, it will be the last time he will +have to wade across it, gleeful at the thought of having so well +succeeded in what brought him over it at all. Pondering on something +besides, another deed of infamy yet to be done, but for which he will +not have to come so far up the Pilcomayo. + +In spite of his self-gratulation, and the gleams of a joy almost +Satanic, which now and then light up his dark sinister countenance, he +is not without some apprehensions; this is made manifest by his +behaviour as he rides along. Although making what haste he can, he does +not rush on in a reckless or careless manner. On the contrary, with due +caution, at every turn of the path, stopping and making survey of each +new reach before entering upon it. This he did, as the ford opened to +his view, keeping under cover of the bushes, till assured there was no +one there; then, striking out into the open ground, and riding rapidly +for it. And while wading across the stream, his eyes are not upon the +water, but sweeping the bank up and down with glances of keen scrutiny. + +As he sees no one there, nor the sign of anyone having been--for it is +not yet daylight, and too dark for him to note the tracks of Gaspar's +horse--he says with a satisfied air, "They're not likely to be coming +after the missing pair at so early an hour. Besides, it's too soon. +They'll hardly be setting them down as lost till late last night, and so +couldn't have tracked them on here yet." + +Riding up out of the water, he once more draws rein by its edge, and +sits regarding the _sumac_ grove with an expression in his eyes +strangely repulsive. + +"I've half a mind to go up in there," he mutters, "and see how things +stand. I wasn't altogether satisfied with the way we left them, and +there's just a possibility he may be still alive. The girl gave so much +trouble in getting them parted, I couldn't be quite sure of having +killed him outright. If not, he might manage to crawl away, or they +coming after in search of him--_Carrai_! I'll make sure now. It can +only delay me a matter of ten minutes, and," he adds glancing up at the +blade of his spear, "if need be, another thrust of this." + +Soon as forming his devilish resolve, the assassin gives his horse a +prick of the spur, and passes on towards the _sumac_ grove, entering at +the same place as before, like a tiger skulking back to the quarry it +has killed, and been chased away from. + +Once inside the thicket, he proceeds along the _tapir_ path, groping his +way in the darkness. But he remembers it well, as well he may; and +without going astray arrives at a spot he has still better reason to +recall; that where, but a little more than twelve hours before, he +supposes himself to have committed murder! Delayed along the narrow +tortuous track, some time has elapsed since his entering among the +_sumacs_. Only a short while, but long enough to give him a clearer +light, for the day has meanwhile dawned, and the place is less shadowed, +for it is an open spot where the sanguinary struggle took place. + +It is sufficiently clear for him, without dismounting, to distinguish +objects on the ground, and note, which at a glance he does, that one he +expected to see is not to be seen. No murdered man there; no body, +living or dead! + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +A PARTY NOT TO BE PURSUED. + +For some seconds, Rufino Valdez is in a state of semi-bewilderment, from +his lips proceeding exclamations that tell of surprise, but more +chagrin. Something of weird terror, too, in the expression upon his +sallow, cadaverous face, as the grey dawn dimly lights it up. + +"_Mil demonios_!" he mutters, gazing distractedly on the ground. "What +does this mean? Is it possible the _gringo's_ got away? Possible? Ay, +certain. And his animal, too! Yes, I remember we left that, fools as +we were, in our furious haste. It's all clear, and, as I half +anticipated, he's been able to climb on the horse, and's off home! +There by this time, like enough." + +With this double adjuration, he resolves upon dismounting, to make +better inspection of the place, and, if possible, assure himself whether +his victim has really survived the murderous attack. But just as he has +drawn one foot out of the stirrup and is balancing on the other, a sound +reaches his ear, causing him to reseat himself in the saddle, and sit +listening. Only a slight noise it was, but one in that place of +peculiar significance, being the hoof-stroke of a horse. + +"Good!" he ejaculates in a whisper, "it must be his." + +Hearkening a little longer, he hears the sound again, apparently further +off, and as his practised ear tells him, the distance increasing. + +"It must be his horse," he reiterates, still continuing to listen. "And +who but he on the animal's back? Going off? Yes; slowly enough. No +wonder at that. Ha! he's come to a halt. What's the best thing for me +to do?" + +He sits silently considering, but only for a few seconds; then glancing +around the glade, in which yester eve he had shed innocent blood, at the +same time losing some of his own, he sees another break among the +bushes, where the _tapir_ path goes out again. Faint as the light still +is, it shows him some horse-tracks, apparently quite fresh, leading off +that way. + +He stays not for more, but again plying the spur, re-enters the thicket, +not to go back to the ford, but on in the opposite direction. The +_tapir_ path takes him up an acclivity, from the stream's edge to the +level of the higher plain, and against it he urges his horse to as much +speed as the nature of the ground will permit. He has thrown away +caution now, and presses forward without fear, expecting soon to see a +man on horseback, but so badly crippled as to be easily overtaken, and +as easily overcome. + +What he does see, on reaching the summit of the slope, is something very +different--two horses instead of one, with a man upon the back of each! +And though one may be wounded and disabled, as he knows him to be, the +other is not so, as he can well see. Instead, a man in full health, +strength, and vigour, one Rufino Valdez fears as much as hates, though +hating him with his whole heart. For it is Gaspar, the gaucho, once his +rival in the affections of a Paraguayan girl, and successful in gaining +them. + +That the _vaqueano's_ fear now predominates over his antipathy is +evident from his behaviour. Instead of dashing on after to overtake the +horsemen, who, with backs towards him, are slowly retiring, he shows +only a desire to shun them. True, there would be two to one, and he has +himself but a single arm available--his left, broken and bandaged, being +now in a sling. But then only one of the two would be likely to stand +against him, the other being too far gone for light. Indeed, +Halberger--for Valdez naturally supposes it to be he--sits drooped in +his saddle, as though he had difficulty in keeping to it. Not that he +has any idea of attacking them does the _vaqueano_ take note of this, +nor has he the slightest thought of attempting to overtake them. Even +knew he that the wounded man were about to drop dead, he knows the other +would be more than his match, with both his own arms sound and at their +best, for they have been already locked in deadly strife with those of +the gaucho, who could have taken his life, but generously forebore. Not +for the world would Rufino Valdez again engage in single combat with +Caspar Mendez, and soon as setting eyes on the latter he draws bridle so +abruptly that his horse starts back as if he had trodden upon a +rattlesnake. + +Quieting the animal with some whispered words, he places himself behind +a thick bush, and there stays all of a tremble, the only thing stedfast +about him being his gaze, fixed upon the forms of the departing +travellers. So carefully does he screen himself, that from the front +nothing is visible to indicate the presence of anyone there, save the +point of a spear, with dry blood upon the blade, projecting above the +bushes, and just touching the fronds of a palm-tree, its ensanguined hue +in vivid contrast with the green of the leaves, as guilt and death in +the midst of innocence and life! + +Not till they have passed almost out of his sight, their heads gradually +going down behind the culms of the tall pampas grass, does Rufino Valdez +breathe freely. Then his nerves becoming braced by the anger which +burns within--a fierce rage, from the old hatred of jealousy, +interrupted by this new and bitter disappointment, the thwarting of a +scheme, so far successful, but still only half accomplished--he gives +utterance to a string of blasphemous anathemas, with threats, in +correspondence. + +"_Carajo_!" he cries, winding up with the mildest of his profane +exclamations. "Ride on, senores, and get soon home! While there, be +happy as you best may. Ha, ha! there won't be much merriment in that +nest now, with the young chick out of it--pet bird of the flock; nor +long before the whole brood be called upon to forsake it. Soon as I can +get to Assuncion and back with a dozen of our _quarteleros_, ah! won't +there be a wiping out of old scores then? If that young fool, +Naraguana's son, hadn't shown so chicken-hearted, I might have settled +them now; gone home with captives, too, instead of empty-handed. Well, +it won't be so long to wait. Let me see. Three days will take me to +Assuncion--less if this animal under me wasn't so near worn out; three +more to return with the troop. Say a week in all; at the end of which, +if there be a man named Caspar Mendez in the land of the living, it +won't be he whose head I see out yonder. That will be off his +shoulders, or if on them only to help hold in its place the loop-end of +my _lazo_. But I must make haste. For what if Halberger have +recognised me? I don't think he did or could; 'twas too dark. If he +have, what--ay, what? Of course they'll know that wasn't likely to be +the last of it, and that there's something more to come. They'd be +simpletons not to think so; and thinking it, still greater fools if they +don't take some steps to flee away from this new roost they've been +perching upon. But whither can they? The young Tovas chief is +compromised with them--dead declared as their enemy so long as he keeps +that pretty creature captive in his toldo; and there are others of the +tribe will stand by me, I know. The glass beads and other glistening +baubles will secure the young, while a few golden onzas skilfully +distributed will do the same for the _sagamores_. No fear then, no +failure yet! With the Tovas on my side, there isn't a spot in the Chaco +to shelter them. So, _caballeros_! you can keep on. In a week from +this time, I hope to hold an interview with you, less distant and more +satisfactory to myself." + +After delivering this quaint rigmarole, he sits watching them till their +heads finally sink below the sea of grass, the rheas feathers in +Caspar's high crowned hat being the last to disappear, as it were waving +back defiance and to the death! + +Soon as they are out of sight, and he no longer fears an encounter with +his old enemy, Valdez turns to the consideration of some other things +which have appeared strange to him. At first, why they are riding so +slowly, for as long as seen they were proceeding in a walking-gait +rarely witnessed upon the pampas, and never where the horseman is a +gaucho; for he gallops if it were but to the stream, within a stone's +throw of his solitary cabin, to fetch a jar of water! + +"Nothing in that," he mutters, "now I come to think of it. Only natural +they should be going at snail's pace. _Carrai_! the wonder is the +_gringo_ being able for even that, or go at all. I thought I'd given +him his _quietus_, for surely I sent my spear right through his ribs! +It must have struck button, or buckle, or something, and glinted off. +Mad fool of me, when I had him down, not to make sure of my work! Well, +it's no use blubbering about it now. Next time I'll take better care +how the thing's done." + +After a short pause, he resumes his strain of interrogative conjecture +now on another matter, which has also struck him as being strange. + +"Why are they going off that way, I wonder? It isn't their direct route +homeward, surely? I don't know the exact spot where the _gringo_ has +established himself; but didn't Aguara say the nearest way to it is +along the river's bank, down to their old _tolderia_? If so, certainly +they're making a round about. Ha! I fancy I know the reason; natural, +too, as the other. The Senor Ludwig must have known they were Tovas who +attacked him, and under the belief that they've gone on to their former +place of abode, dreads a second encounter with them. No wonder he +should, having found them such treacherous allies--enemies instead of +friends. Ha, ha, ha! won't that puzzle him? Of course, he hasn't yet +heard of Naraguana's death--couldn't--they all said so. Well, it's a +bit of good luck for me their going that round. My road lies direct +down the river, and now I may proceed upon it without fear of being +spied by them. That would never do just yet. They shall have sight of +me soon enough--sooner than they'll like it. And this reminds me I +mustn't waste any more time here; it's too precious. Now off, and home +to El Supremo, who'll jump with very joy at the news I have for him." + +Giving his horse a touch of the spur, he heads him along the high bank, +still keeping within the skirt of timber, and riding slowly through the +tangle of obstructing bushes; but at length getting out upon the old +trail, where it goes down to the ford, he turns along it, in the +opposite direction, towards the deserted _tolderia_. And now, with +nothing further to obstruct him, he plies the spur vigorously, and keeps +on at full gallop, not looking ahead, however, but with eyes all the +while scanning the plain to his left, apprehensively, as fearing there +to see a tall black hat, with a bunch of ostrich feathers floating above +it. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +WHY COME THEY NOT? + +A night of dread suspense has been passed at the estancia of Ludwig +Halberger. No one there has thought of sleep. Even the dark-skinned +domestics--faithful Guano Indians--touched with sympathy for the senora, +their mistress, do not retire to rest. Instead, retainers all, outside +the house as within, sit up throughout the night, taking part with her +in the anxious vigil. + +As the hours drag wearily along, the keener become her apprehensions; +that presentiment of the morning, which during all the day has never +left her, now pressing upon her spirit with the weight of woe itself. +She could scarce be sadder, or surer that some terrible mischance had +happened to her husband and daughter, had she seen it with her own eyes. +And were both to be brought back dead, 'twould be almost what she is +anticipating. + +In vain her son Ludwig, an affectionate lad, essays to cheer her. Do +his best to assign or invent reasons for their prolonged absence, he +cannot chase the dark shadow from her brow, nor lift the load off her +heart. And Cypriano, who dearly loves his aunt, has no more success. +Indeed, less, since almost as much does he need cheering himself. For +although Francesca's fate is a thing of keen inquietude to the brother, +it is yet of keener to the cousin. Love is the strongest of the +affections. + +But youth, ever hopeful, hinders them from despairing; and despite their +solicitude, they find words of comfort for her who hears them without +being comforted. + +"Keep up heart, mother!" says Ludwig, feigning a cheerfulness he far +from feels. "'Twill be all right yet, and we'll see them home to-morrow +morning--if not before. You know that father has often stayed out all +night." + +"Never alone," she despondingly answers. "Never with Francesca. Only +when Gaspar was along with him." + +"Well, Gaspar's with him now, no doubt; and that'll make all safe. He's +sure to have found them. Don't you think so, Cypriano?" + +"Oh! yes," mechanically rejoins the cousin, in his heart far from +thinking it so, but the reverse. "Wherever they've gone he'll get upon +their tracks; and as Gaspar can follow tracks, be they ever so slight, +he'll have no difficulty with those of uncle's horse." + +"He may follow them," says the senora, heaving a sigh, "but whither will +they lead him to. Alas, I fear--" + +"Have no fear, _tia_!" interrupts the nephew, with alacrity, an idea +occurring to him. "I think I know what's detaining them--at least, it's +very likely." + +"What?" she asks, a spark of hopefulness for an instant lighting up her +saddened eyes; Ludwig, at the same time, putting the question. + +"Well," replies Cypriano, proceeding to explain, "you know how uncle +takes it, when he comes across a new object of natural history, or +anything in the way of a curiosity. It makes him forget everything +else, and everybody too. Suppose while riding over the campo he chanced +upon something of that sort, and stayed to secure it? It may have been +too big to be easily brought home." + +"No, no!" murmurs the senora, the gleam of hope departing suddenly as it +had sprung up. "It cannot be that." + +"But it can, and may," persists the youth, "for there's something I +haven't yet told you, _tia_--a thing which makes it more probable." + +Again she looks to him inquiringly, as does Ludwig, both listening with +all ears for the answer. + +"The thing I'm speaking of is an ostrich." + +"Why an ostrich? your uncle could have no curiosity about that. He sees +them every day." + +"True, but it's not every day he can catch them. And it was only +yesterday I heard him tell Caspar he wanted one, a cock bird, for some +purpose or other, though what, he didn't say. Now, it's likely, almost +certain, that while on their way to the _tolderia_, or coming back, he +has seen one, given chase to it, leaving Francesca somewhere to wait for +him. Well, _tia_, you know what an ostrich is to chase? Now lagging +along as if you could easily throw the noose round its neck, then +putting on a fresh spurt--'twould tempt any one to keep on after it. +Uncle may have got tantalised in that very way, and galloped leagues +upon leagues without thinking of it. To get back to Francesca, and then +home, would take all the time that's passed yet. So don't let us +despair." + +The words well meant, and not without some show of reason, fail, +however, to bring conviction to the senora. Her heart is too sad, the +presentiment too heavy on it, to be affected by any such sophistry. In +return, she says despairingly-- + +"No, _sobrino_! that's not it. It your uncle had gone after an ostrich, +you forget that Caspar has gone after him. If he had found them, they'd +all have been back before this. _Ay de mi_! I know they'll never be +back--never more!" + +"Nay, mamma! don't say that," breaks in Ludwig, flinging his arms around +her neck, and kissing the tears from her cheek. "What Cypriano says +appears to me probable enough, and likely to be true. But if it isn't, +I think I can tell what is." + +Again the sorrowing mother looks inquiringly up; Cypriano, in turn, +becoming listener. + +"My idea," pursues Ludwig, "is that they went straight on to the +_tolderia_, and are there still--detained against their will." + +Cypriano starts, saying. "What makes you think that, cousin?" + +"Because of Naraguana. You know how the old Indian's given to drinking +_guarape_. Every now and then he gets upon a carousal, and keeps it up +for days, sometimes weeks. And he may be at that now, which would +account for none of them having been to see us lately. If that's the +reason, the silly old fellow might just take it into his head to detain +father and Francesca. Not from any ill will, but only some crazy notion +of his own. Now, isn't that likely enough?" + +"But Gaspar? they wouldn't detain him. Nor would he dare stay, after +what I said to him at parting." + +It is the senora who speaks, for Cypriano is now all absorbed in +thoughts which fearfully afflict him. + +"Gaspar couldn't help himself, mamma, any more than father or sister. +If the chief be as I've said--intoxicated--all the other Indians will be +the same, sure enough; and Gaspar would have to stay with them, if they +wished it. Now, it's my opinion they have wished it, and are keeping +all of them there for the night. No doubt, kindly entertaining them, in +their own rough way, however much father and Francesca may dislike it, +and Gaspar growl at it. But it'll be all right. So cheer up, _madre +mia_! We'll see them home in the morning--by breakfast time, or before +it." + +Alas! Ludwig's forecast proves a failure; as his mother too surely +expected it would. Morning comes, but with it no word of the missing +ones. Nor is any sign seen of them by anxious eyes, that from earliest +daybreak have been scanning the plain, which stretches away in front of +the estancia. Nothing moves over it but the wild creatures, its +denizens; while above it, on widely extended wings, soars a flock of +black vultures--ill omen in that moment of doubt and fear. + +And so passes the hour of breakfast, with other hours, on till it is +mid-day, but still no human being appears upon the plain. 'Tis only +later, when the sun began to throw elongated shadows, that one is seen +there, upon horseback, and going in a gallop; but he is heading _from_ +the house, and not _toward_ it. For the rider is Cypriano himself, who, +no longer able to bear the torturing suspense, has torn himself away +from aunt and cousin, to go in search of his uncle and another cousin-- +the last dearer than all. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +A TEDIOUS JOURNEY. + +It yet wants full two hours of sunset, as the gaucho and his companion +come within sight of the estancia. Still, so distant, however, that the +house appears not bigger than a dove-cot--a mere fleck of yellow, the +colour of the _cana brava_, of which its walls are constructed--half +hidden by the green foliage of the trees standing around it. The point +from which it is viewed is on the summit of a low hill, at least a +league off, and in a direct line between the house itself and the +deserted Indian village. For although the returning travellers have not +passed through the latter place, but, for reasons already given, +intentionally avoided it, the route they had taken, now nearer home, has +brought them back into that, between it and the estancia. + +A slow journey they have made. It is all of eight hours since, at +earliest sunrise, they rode out from among the _sumac_ trees on the bank +of the branch stream; and the distance gone over cannot be much more +than twenty miles. Under ordinary circumstances the gaucho would have +done it in two hours, or less. + +As it is, he has had reasons for delaying, more than one. First, his +desire to make the journey without being observed; and to guard against +this, he has been zig-zagging a good deal, to take advantage of such +cover as was offered by the palm-groves and scattered copses of +_quebracho_. + +A second cause retarding him has been the strange behaviour of his +travelling companion, whose horse he has had to look after all along the +way. Nothing has this rider done for himself, nor is yet doing; neither +guides the horse, nor lays hand upon the bridle-rein, which, caught over +the saddle-bow, swings loosely about. He does not even urge the animal +on by whip or spur. And as for word, he has not spoken one all day, +neither to the gaucho, nor in soliloquy to himself! Silent he is, as +when halted by the edge of the _sumac_ wood, and in exactly the same +attitude; the only change observable being his hat, which is a little +more slouched over his face, now quite concealing it. + +But the two causes assigned are not the only ones why they have been so +long in reaching the spot where they now are. There is a third +influencing the gaucho. He has not wished to make better speed. Nor +does he yet desire it, as is evident by his actions. For now arrived on +the hill's top, within sight of home, instead of hastening on towards it +he brings his horse to a dead halt, the other, as if mechanically, +stopping too. It is not that the animals are tired, and need rest. The +pause is for a different purpose; of which some words spoken by the +gaucho to himself, give indication. Still in the saddle, his face +turned towards the distant dwelling, with eyes intently regarding it, he +says:-- + +"Under that roof are three hearts beating anxiously now, I know. Soon +to be sadder, though; possibly, one of them to break outright. _Pobere +senora_! what will she say when she hears--when she sees this? +_Santissima_! 'twill go wellnigh killing her, if it don't quite!" + +While speaking, he has glanced over his shoulder at the other horseman, +who is half a length behind. But again facing to the house, and fixing +his gaze upon it, he continues:-- + +"And Cypriano--poor lad! He'll have his little heart sorely tried, too. +So fond of his cousin, and no wonder, such a sweet _chiquitita_. That +will be a house of mourning, when I get home to it!" + +Once more he pauses in his muttered speech, as if to consider something. +Then, looking up at the sun, proceeds: + +"It'll be full two hours yet before that sets. Withal I must wait for +its setting. 'Twill never do to take him home in broad daylight. No; +she mustn't see him thus, and sha'n't--if I can help it. I'll stop here +till it's dark, and, meanwhile, think about the best way of breaking it +to her. _Carramba_! that will be a scene! I could almost wish myself +without eyes, rather than witness it. Ah! me! It'll be enough painful +to listen to their lamentations." + +In conformity with, the intention just declared, he turns his horse's +head towards a grand _ombu_--growing not far off--the same which, the +day before, guided him back to his lost way--and riding on to it pulls +up beneath its spreading branches. The other horse, following, stops +too. But the man upon his back stays there, while the gaucho acts +differently; dismounting, and attaching the bridles of both horses to a +branch of the tree. Then he stretches himself along the earth, not to +seek sleep or rest, but the better to give his thoughts to reflection, +on that about which he has been speaking. + +He has not been many minutes in his recumbent attitude before being +aroused from it. With his ears so close to the ground, sounds are +carried to him from afar, and one now reaching them causes him first to +start into a sitting posture, and then stand upon his feet. It is but +the trample of a horse, and looking in the direction whence it comes +sees the animal itself, and its rider soon is seen, recognising both. + +"Cypriano!" he mechanically exclaims, adding, "_Pobrecito_! He's been +impatient; anxious; too much to stay for my return, and now's coming +after." + +It is Cypriano, approaching from the direction of the house whence he +has but lately started, and at great speed, urged on by the anxiety +which oppresses him. But he is not heading for the _ombu_, instead, +along the more direct path to the Indian town, which would take him past +the tree at some three hundred yards' distance. + +He does not pass it, nevertheless. Before he has got half-way up the +hill, Caspar, taking the bridle of his own horse from the branch, leaps +into the saddle, and gallops down to meet him. The gaucho has a reason +for not hailing him at a distance, or calling him to come under the +_ombu_, till he first held speech with him. + +"Caspar!" shouts the youth excitedly, soon as he catches sight of the +other coming towards him. "What news? Oh? you've not found them! I +see you haven't!" + +"Calm yourself, young master!" rejoins the gaucho, now close up to him; +"I have found them--that is, one of them." + +"Only one--which?" half distractedly interrogates the youth. + +"Your uncle--but, alas--" + +"Dead--dead! I know it by the way you speak. But my cousin! Where is +she? Still living? Say so, Caspar! Oh, say but that!" + +"Come senorito, be brave; as I know you are. It may not be so bad for +the _nina_, your cousin. I've no doubt she's still alive, though I've +not been successful in finding her. As for your uncle, you must prepare +yourself to see something that'll pain you. Now, promise me you'll bear +it bravely--say you will, and come along with me!" + +At this Gaspar turns his horse, and heads him back for the _ombu_, the +other silently following, stunned almost beyond the power of speech. +But once under the tree, and seeing what he there sees, it returns to +him. Then the gaucho is witness to an exhibition of grief and rage, +both wild as ever agitated the breast of a boy. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +DEAD! + +Once more the sun is going down over the pampa, but still nothing seen +upon it to cheer the eyes of the Senora Halberger, neither those first +missing, nor they who went after. One after another she has seen them +depart, but in vain looks for their return. + +And now, as she stands with eyes wandering over that grassy wilderness, +she can almost imagine it a maelstrom or some voracious monster, that +swallows up all who venture upon it. As the purple of twilight assumes +the darker shade of night, it seems to her as though some unearthly and +invisible hand were spreading a pall over the plain to cover her dear +ones, somewhere lying dead upon it. + +She is in the verandah with her son, and side by side they stand gazing +outward, as long as there is light for them to see. Even after darkness +has descended they continue to strain their eyes mechanically, but +despairingly, she more hopeless and feeling more forlorn than ever. All +gone but Ludwig! for even her nephew may not return. Where Caspar, a +strong man and experienced in the ways of the wilderness, has failed to +find the lost ones, what chance will there be for Cypriano? More like +some cruel enemy has made captives of them all, killing all, one after +the other, and he, falling into the same snare, has been sacrificed as +the rest! + +Dark as is this hour of her apprehension, there is yet a darker one in +store for her; but before it there is to be light, with joy--alas! +short-lived as that bright, garish gleam of sun which often precedes the +wildest burst of a storm. Just as the last ray of hope has forsaken +her, a house-dog, lying outstretched by the verandah starts to its feet +with a growl, and bounding off into the darkness, sets up a sonorous +baying. + +Both mother and son step hastily forward to the baluster rail, and +resting hands on it, again strain their eyes outward, now as never +before, at the same time listening as for some signal sound, on the +hearing of which hung their very lives. + +Soon they both hear and see what gives them gladness unspeakable, their +ears first imparting it by a sound sweeter to them than any music, for +it is the tread of horses' hoofs upon the firm turf of the plain; and +almost in the same instant they see the horses themselves, each with a +rider upon its back. + +The exclamation that leaps from the mother's lips is the cry of a heart +long held in torture suddenly released, and without staying to repeat +it, she rushes out of the verandah and on across the patch of enclosed +ground--not stopping till outside the palings which enclose it. Ludwig +following, comes again by her side, and the two stand with eyes fixed on +the approaching forms, there now so near that they are able to make out +their number. + +But this gives them surprise, somewhat alarming them afresh. For there +are but _three_ where there should be _four_. + +"It must be your father and Francesca, with Caspar," says the senora, +speaking in doubt. "Cypriano has missed them all, I suppose. But he'll +come too--" + +"No, mother," interrupts Ludwig, "Cypriano is there. I can see a white +horse, that must be his." + +"Gaspar then; he it is that's behind." + +She says this with a secret hope it may be so. + +"It don't look like as if Gaspar was behind," returns Ludwig, hesitating +in his speech, for his eyes, as his heart, tell him there is still +something amiss. "Two of them," he continues, "are men, full grown, and +the third is surely Cypriano." + +They have no time for further discussion or conjecture--no occasion for +it. The three shadowy figures are now very near, and just as the +foremost pulls up in front of the palings, the moon bursting forth from +behind a cloud flashes her full light upon his face, and they see it is +Gaspar. The figures farther off are lit up at the same time, and the +senora recognises them as her husband and nephew. A quick searching +glance carried behind to the croups of their horses shows her there is +no one save those seated in the saddle. + +"Where is Francesca?" she cries out in agonised accents. "Where is my +daughter?" + +No one makes answer; not any of them speaks. Gaspar, who is nearest, +but hangs his head, as does his master behind him. + +"What means all this?" is her next question, as she dashes past the +gaucho's horse, and on to her husband, as she goes crying out, "Where is +Francesca? What have you done with my child?" + +He makes no reply, nor any gesture--not even a word to acknowledge her +presence! Drawing closer she clutches him by the knee, continuing her +distracted interrogatories. + +"Husband! why are you thus silent? Ludwig, dear Ludwig, why don't you +answer me? Ah! now I know. She is dead--dead!" + +"Not _she_, but _he_," says a voice close to her ear--that of Gaspar, +who has dismounted and stepped up to her. + +"He! who?" + +"Alas! senora, my master, your husband." + +"O Heavens! can this be true?" as she speaks, stretching her arms up to +the inanimate form, still in the saddle--for it is fast tied there--and +throwing them around it; then with one hand lifting off the hat, which +falls from her trembling fingers, she gazes on a ghastly face, and into +eyes that return not her gaze. But for an instant, when, with a wild +cry, she sinks back upon the earth, and lies silent, motionless, the +moonbeams shimmering upon her cheeks, showing them white and bloodless, +as if her last spark of life had departed! + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +ON THE TRAIL. + +It is the day succeeding that on which the hunter-naturalist was carried +home a corpse, sitting upright in his saddle. The sun has gone down +over the Gran Chaco, and its vast grassy plains and green palm-groves +are again under the purple of twilight. Herds of stately _quazutis_ and +troops of the _pampas_ roebuck--beautiful creatures, spotted like fawns +of the fallow-deer--move leisurely towards their watering-places, having +already browsed to satiety on pastures where they are but rarely +disturbed by the hunter, for here no sound of horse nor baying of +molossian ever breaks the stillness of the early morn, and the only +enemies they have habitually to dread are the red puma and yellow +jaguar, throughout Spanish America respectively, but erroneously, named +lion (_leon_) and tiger (_tigre)_, from a resemblance, though a very +slight one, which these, the largest of the New World's _felidae_, bear +to their still grander congeners of the Old. + +The scene we are about to depict is upon the Pilcomayo's bank, some +twenty miles above the old _tomeria_ of the Tovas Indians, and therefore +thirty from the house of Ludwig Halberger--now his no more, but a house +of mourning. The mourners, however, are not all in it, for by a +camp-fire freshly kindled at the place we speak of; two of them are seen +seated. One is the son of the murdered man, the other his nephew; while +not far off is a third individual, who mourns almost as much as either. +Need I say it is Caspar, the gaucho? + +Or is it necessary to give explanation of their being thus far from home +so soon after that sad event, the cause of their sorrow? No. The +circumstances speak for themselves; telling than to be there on an +errand connected with that same crime; in short, in pursuit of the +criminals. + +Who these may be they have as yet no definite knowledge. All is but +blind conjectures, the only thing certain being that the double crime +has been committed by Indians; for the trail which has conducted to the +spot they are now on, first coming down the river's bank to the branch +stream, then over its ford and back again, could have been made only by +a mounted party of red men. + +But of what tribe? That is the question which puzzles them. Not the +only one, however. Something besides causes them surprise, equally +perplexing them. Among the other hoof-marks, they have observed some +that must have been made by a horse with shoes on; and as they know the +Chaco Indians never ride such, the thing strikes them as very strange. +It would not so much, were the shod-tracks only traceable twice along +the trail; that is, coming down the river and returning up again, for +they might suppose that one of the savages was in possession of a white +man's horse, stolen from some of the settlements, a thing of no uncommon +occurrence. But then they have here likewise observed a third set of +these tracks, of older date, also going up, and a fourth, freshest of +all, returning down again; the last on top of everything else, +continuing on to the old _tolderia_, as they have noticed all the way +since leaving it. + +And in their examination of the many hoof-marks by the force of the +tributary stream, up to the _sumac_ thicket--and along the _tapir_ path +to that blood-stained spot which they have just visited--the same tracks +are conspicuous amid all the others, telling that he who rode the shod +horse has had a hand in the murder, and likely a leading one. + +It is the gaucho who has made most of these observations, but about the +deductions to be drawn from them, he is, for the time, as much at fault +as either of his younger companions. + +They have just arrived at their present halting-place, their first camp +since leaving the _estancia_; from which they parted a little before +mid-day: soon as the sad, funeral rites were over, and the body of the +murdered man laid in its grave. This done at an early hour of the +morning, for the hot climate of the Chaco calls for quick interment. + +The sorrowing wife did nought to forbid their departure. She had her +sorrows as a mother, too; and, instead of trying to restrain, she but +urged them to take immediate action in searching for her lost child. + +That Francesca is still living they all believe, and so long as there +seemed a hope--even the slightest--of recovering her, the bereaved +mother was willing to be left alone. Her faithful Guanos would be with +her. + +It needed no persuasive argument to send the searchers off. In their +own minds they have enough motive for haste; and, though in each it +might be different in kind, as in degree, with all it is sufficiently +strong. Not one of them but is willing to risk his life in the pursuit +they have entered upon; and at least one would lay it down rather than +fail in finding Francesca, and restoring her to her mother. + +They have followed thus far on the track of the abductors, but without +any fixed or definite plan as to continuing. Indeed, there has been no +time to think of one, or anything else; all hitherto acting under that +impulse of anxiety for the girl's fate which they so keenly feel. But +now that the first hurried step has been taken, and they can go no +further till another sun lights up the trail, calmer reflection comes, +admonishing them to greater caution in their movements. For they who +have so ruthlessly killed one man would as readily take other lives-- +their own. What they have undertaken is no mere question of skill in +taking up a trail, but an enterprise full of peril; and they have need +to be cautious how they proceed upon it. + +They are so acting now. Their camp-fire is but a small one, just +sufficient to boil a kettle of water for making the _mate_, and the spot +where they have placed it is in a hollow, so that it may not be seen +from afar. Besides, a clump of palms screens it on the western side, +the direction in which the trail leads, and therefore the likeliest for +them to apprehend danger. + +Soon as coming to a stop, and before kindling the fire Gaspar has gone +all around, and made a thorough survey of the situation. Then, +satisfied it is a safe one, he undertakes the picketing of their horses, +directing the others to set light to the faggots; which they have done, +and seated themselves beside. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +WHO RODE THE SHOD HORSE? + +While waiting for the gaucho to rejoin them by the fire the two youths +are not silent, but converse upon the event which saddens and still +mystifies them. For up till this moment they have not seen anything, +nor can they think of aught to account for the calamity which has +befallen them--the double crime that has been committed. No more can +they conceive who have been the perpetrators; though Cypriano all along +has had his suspicions. And now for the first time he communicates them +to his cousin, saying-- + +"It's been the work of Tovas Indians." + +"Impossible, Cypriano!" exclaims Ludwig in surprise. "Why should they +murder my poor father? What motive could they have had for it?" + +"Motive enough; at least one of them had." + +"One! who mean you?" + +"Aguara." + +"Aguara! But why he of all the others? And for what?" + +"For what? Simply to get possession of your sister." + +Ludwig starts, showing greater astonishment than ever. + +"Cypriano!" he exclaims; "what do you mean?" + +"Just what I've said, cousin. You're perhaps not aware of what I've +myself known for long; that the chief's son has been fixing his eyes on +Francesca." + +"The scoundrel!" cries Ludwig, with increasing indignation, for the +first time apprised of the fact thus made known to him. Unobservant of +such things generally, it had never occurred to him to reflect on what +had long been patent to the jealous eyes of Cypriano. Besides, the +thing seemed so absurd, even preposterous--a red-skinned savage +presuming to look upon his sister in the light of a sweetheart, daring +to love her--that the son of the Prussian naturalist, with all the +prejudices of race, could not be otherwise than incredulous of it. + +"Are you sure of that?" he questions, still doubting. "Sure of what +you've said, Cypriano?" + +"Quite sure," is the confident rejoinder; "more than once I've observed +Aguara's free behaviour towards my cousin; and once would have thrashed +the impudent redskin, but for uncle interfering. He was afraid it might +get us into trouble with Naraguana." + +"But did father himself know of it? I mean about Aguara and Francesca?" + +"No. I rather think not. And I disliked telling him." + +All this is new light to Ludwig, and turns his thoughts into the same +channel of suspicion where those of Cypriano have been already running. +Still, whatever he may think of Naraguana's son, he cannot bring himself +to believe that Naraguana has been guilty. His father's friend, and +hitherto their protector! + +"It cannot be!" he exclaims; "surely it cannot be!" + +"It may be for all that, and in my opinion is. Ah! cousin, there's no +telling how an Indian will act. I never knew one who didn't turn +treacherous when it served his purpose. Whether the old chief has been +so or not, I'm quite sure his son has. Take my word for it, Ludwig, +it's the Tovas Indians who've done this deed, and it will be with them +we'll have to deal." + +"But whither can they have gone? and why went they off so suddenly and +secretly, without letting father or any of us know. All that certainly +seems strange." + +"Not so strange when we think of what's happened since. My idea is, +it's been all a planned thing. Aguara got his father to agree to his +carrying off Francesca; and the old chief, controlled by the young one, +let him take his way. Fearing to face uncle he first went off, taking +the whole tribe along; and they're now, no doubt, residing in some +distant part of the Chaco, where they suppose we'll never go after them. +But Francesca will be there too; and we must follow and find her--ay, +if we have to lay down our lives when she's found. Shall we not, +cousin?" + +"Yes; shall and will!" is Ludwig's rejoinder in a tone of determination; +their dialogue getting interrupted by Gaspar coming back to the +camp-fire, and saying-- + +"Now, _senoritos_! It's high time we had some supper." + +On making this announcement the gaucho himself sets about preparing +their evening repast. It requires no great effort of culinary skill; +since the more substantial portion of it has been already cooked, and is +now presented in the shape of a cold shoulder of mutton, with a cake of +corn bread, extracted from a pair of _alparejas_, or saddle-bags. In +the Chaco there are sheep--the Indians themselves breeding them--while +since settling there the hunter-naturalist had not neglected either +pastoral or agricultural pursuits. Hence the meal from which came that +cake of maize-bread. + +With these two _pieces de resistance_ nothing remains but to make a cup +of "Paraguay tea," for which Gaspar has provided all the materials, +viz., an iron kettle for boiling water, cups of cocoa-nut shell termed +_mates_--for this is the name of the vessel, not the beverage--and +certain tubes, the _bombillas_, to serve as spoons; the Paraguayan tea +being imbibed, not in the ordinary way, but sucked up through these +_bombillas_. All the above implements, with a little sugar for +sweetening; and, lastly, the _yerba_ itself, has the thoughtful gaucho +brought along. No milk, however; the lacteal fluid not being deemed a +necessary ingredient in the cup which cheers the Paraguayan people, +without intoxicating them. + +Gaspar--as all gauchos, skilled in the concoction of it--in a short time +has the three _mates_ brimful of the brew. Then the _bombillas_ are +inserted, and the process of sucking commences; suspended only at +intervals while the more substantial mutton and maize-bread are being +masticated. + +Meanwhile, as a measure of security, the camp-fire has been +extinguished, though they still keep their places around its embers. +And while eating, converse; Cypriano imparting to Gaspar the suspicions +he has already communicated to his cousin. + +It is no new idea to the gaucho; instead, the very one his own thoughts +have been dwelling upon. For he, too, had long observed the behaviour +of the young Tovas chief towards the daughter of his _dueno_. And what +has now occurred seems to coincide with that--all except the supposed +treachery of Naraguana. A good judge of character, as most gauchos are, +Gaspar cannot think of the aged cacique having turned traitor. Still, +as Ludwig, he is at a loss what to think. For why should the Tovas +chief have made that abrupt departure from his late abiding place? The +reason assigned by Cypriano is not, to his view, satisfactory; though he +cannot imagine any other. So, they finish their suppers and retire to +rest, without having arrived at any certain conclusion, one way or the +other. + +With heads rested upon their saddles, and their ponchos wrapped around +them, they seek sleep, Ludwig first finding it; next Cypriano, though he +lies long awake--kept so by torturing thoughts. But tired nature at +length overpowers him, and he too sinks into slumber. + +The gaucho alone surrenders not to the drowsy god; but, repelling his +attacks, still lies reflecting. Thus run his reflections--as will be +seen, touching near the truth: + +"_Carramba_! I can think of but one man in all the world who had an +interest in the death of my dear master. One there was who'd have given +a good deal to see him dead--that's El Supremo. No doubt he searched +high and low for us, after we gave him the slip. But then, two years +gone by since! One would think it enough to have made him almost forget +us. Forgive, no! that wouldn't be Senor Jose Francia. He never +forgives. Nor is it likely he has forgotten, either, what the _dueno_ +did. Crossing him in his vile purpose, was just the sort of thing to +stick in his crop for the remainder of his life; and I shouldn't wonder +if it's his hand has been here. Odd, those tracks of a shod horse; four +times back and forward! And the last of them, by their look, must have +been made as late as yesterday--some time in the early morning, I should +say. Beyond the old _tolderia_, downward, they've gone. I wish I'd +turned a bit that way as we came up, so as to be sure of it. Well, I'll +find that out, when we get back from this pursuit; which I very much +fear will prove a wild goose chase." + +For a time he lies without stirring, or moving a muscle, on his back, +with eyes seemingly fixed upon the stars, like an ancient astrologer in +the act of consulting them for the solution of some deep mystery hidden +from mortal ken. Then, as if having just solved it, he gives a sudden +start, exclaiming: + +"_Sangre de Crista_! that's the explanation of all, the whole affair; +murder, abduction, everything." + +His words, though only muttered, awaken Cypriano, still only +half-asleep. + +"What is it, Gaspar?" questions the youth. + +"Oh, nothing, _senorito_; only a mosquito that took a fancy to stick its +bill into the bridge of my nose. But I've given Master _Zancudo_ his +quietus; and he won't trouble me again." + +Though the gaucho thinks he has at last got the clue to what has been +mystifying them, like all skilled tacticians he intends for a time +keeping it to himself. So, saying no more, he leaves his young +companion to return to his slumbers: which the latter soon does. +Himself now more widely awake than ever, he follows up the train of +thought Cypriano had interrupted. + +"It's clear that Francia has at length found out our whereabouts. I +wonder he didn't do so long ago; and have often warned the _dueno_ of +the danger we were in. Of course, Naraguana kept him constantly +assured; and with war to the knife between the Tovas and Paraguayans, no +wonder my poor master was too careless and confident. But something has +happened lately to affect their relations. The Indians moving so +mysteriously away from their old place shows it. And these shod-tracks +tell, almost for sure, that some white man has been on a visit to them, +wherever they are now. Just as sure about this white man being an +emissary from El Supremo. And who would his emissary be? Who sent on +such an errand so likely as _him_?" + +The emphasis on the "him" points to some one not yet mentioned, but whom +the gaucho has in his mind. Soon, however, he gives the name, saying: + +"The scoundrel who bestrode that horse--and a thorough scoundrel too--is +Rufino Valdez. Assassin, besides! It's he who has murdered my master. +I'd lay my life on it." + +After arriving at this conclusion, he adds: + +"What a pity I didn't think of this before! If but yesterday morning! +He must have passed along the trail going back, and alone? Ah! the +chance I've let escape me! Such an opportunity for settling old scores +with Senor Rufino! Well, he and I may meet yet; and if we do, one of us +will have to stay on the spot where that encounter takes place, or be +carried from it feet foremost. I think I know which would go that way, +and which the other." + +Thus predicating, the gaucho pulls his poncho around his shoulders, and +composes himself for sleep; though it is some time before he succeeds in +procuring it. + +But Morpheus coming to his aid, proves too many for the passions which +agitate him; and he at length sinks into a profound slumber, not broken +till the curassows send up their shrill cries--as the crowing of +Chanticleer--to tell that another day is dawning upon the Chaco. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +THE "LOST BALL." + +Travellers on such an errand as that which is carrying the gaucho and +his youthful companions across the Chaco, do not lie abed late; and they +are up and stirring as the first streak of blue-grey light shows itself +above the horizon. + +Again a tiny fire is kindled; the kettle hung over it; and the _mates_, +with the _bombillas_, called into requisition. + +The breakfast is just as was their supper--cold mutton, corn bread, and +_yerba_ tea. + +By the time they have despatched it, which they do in all haste, it is +clear enough to permit of their taking up the trail they have been +following. So, saddling their horses, they return to, and proceed along +it. + +As hitherto, it continues up the bank of the Pilcomayo, and at intervals +they observe the tracks of Francesca's pony, where they have not been +trampled out by the other horses behind. And, as on the preceding day, +they see the hoof-marks of the shod animal, both going and returning-- +the return track evidently the more recently made. They notice them, +however, only up to a certain point--about twenty miles beyond the +crossing-place of that tributary stream, now so full of sad interest to +them. Here, in a grove of _algarobias_, they come upon the spot where +those they are in pursuit of must have made their night bivouac; this +told by some fragments of food lying scattered around, and the grass +burnt in two places--large circular discs where their camp-fires had +been kindled. The fires are out, and the ashes cold now; for that must +have been two nights before. + +Dismounting, they too make halt by the _algarobia_ grove--partly to +breathe their horses, which have been all the morning kept at top speed, +through their anxiety to overtake the Indians--but more for the sake of +giving examination to the abandoned camp, in the hope that something +left there may lead to further elucidation of the crime and its causes; +possibly enable them to determine, beyond doubt, who have been its +perpetrators. + +At first nothing is found to give them the slightest clue; only the +ashes and half-burned faggots of the fires, with some bits of _sipos_-- +which have been cut from creeping plants entwining the trees overhead-- +the corresponding pieces, in all likelihood, having been used as rope +tackle for some purpose the gaucho cannot guess. These, and the +fragments of food already referred to, with some bones of birds clean +picked, and the shells of a half-score ostrich eggs, are all the +_debris_ they can discover. + +But none of these items give any indication as to who made bivouac +there; beyond the fact, already understood and unquestioned, that they +were Indians, with the further certainty of their having stayed on the +spot over-night; this shown by the grass pressed down where their bodies +had lain astretch; as also the circular patches browsed bare by their +horses, around the picket pins which had held them. + +Indians certainly; but of what tribe there is nothing on that spot to +tell--neither sign nor token. + +So concluding, Cypriano and Ludwig have climbed back into their +saddles--the former terribly impatient to proceed--but Gaspar still +stays afoot, holding his horse by the bridle at long reach, and leading +the animal about from place to place, as if not yet satisfied with the +search they have made. For there are spots where the grass is long, and +the ground rough, overgrown also with weeds and bushes. Possibly among +these he may yet discover something. + +And something he does discover--a globe-shaped object lying half-hid +among the weeds, about the size and colour of a cricket ball. This to +you, young reader; for Gaspar knows nothing of your national game. But +he knows everything about balls of another kind--the _bolas_--that +weapon, without which a South American gaucho would feel as a crusader +of the olden time lacking half his armour. + +And it is a _bola_ that lies before him; though one of a peculiar kind, +as he sees after stooping and taking it up. A round stone covered with +cow's skin; this stretched and sewed over it tight as that on a tennis +ball. + +But to the _bola_ there is no cord attached, nor mark of where one has +ever been. For there never has been such, as Gaspar at a glance +perceives. Well knows the gaucho that the ball he holds in his hand has +not been one of a pair strung together--as with the ordinary _bolas_-- +nor of three in like manner united, as is sometimes the case; but a +_bola_, for still it is a _bola_, of a sort different from either, both +in its make and the mode of using it, as also the effect it is designed +to produce. + +"What is it, Gaspar?" simultaneously interrogate the two, as they see +him so closely examining the thing he has picked up. At the same time +they turn their horses' heads towards him. + +"_Una bola perdida_." + +"Ah! a ball the Indians have left behind--lost, you mean." + +"No, _senoritos_; I don't mean that, exactly. Of course, the redskins +have left it behind, and so lost it. But that isn't the reason of my +calling it a _bola perdida_." + +"Why, then, Caspar?" asks Ludwig, with the hereditary instincts of the +_savant_, like his father, curious about all such things. "Why do you +call it a lost ball?" + +"Because that's the name we gauchos give it, and the name by which it is +known among those who make use of it--these Chaco Indians." + +"And pray, what do they use it for? I never heard of the thing. What +is its purpose?" + +"One for which, I hope, neither it nor any of its sort will ever be +employed upon us. The Virgin forbid! For it is no child's toy, I can +assure you, _senoritos_; but a most murderous weapon. I've witnessed +its effects more than once--seen it flung full thirty yards, and hit a +spot not bigger than the breadth of my hand; the head of a horse, +crushing in the animal's skull as if done by a club of _quebracha_. +Heaven protect me, and you too, _muchachos_, from ever getting struck by +a _bola perdida_!" + +"But why a _lost_ ball?" asks Ludwig, with curiosity still unsatisfied. + +"Oh! that's plain enough," answers the gaucho. "As you see, when once +launched there's no knowing where it may roll to; and often gets lost in +the long grass or among bushes; unlike the ordinary _bolas_, which stick +to the thing aimed at--that is, if thrown as they should be." + +"What do you make of its being found here?" interrogates Cypriano, more +interested about the ball in a sense different from the curiosity felt +by his cousin. + +"Much," answers Caspar, looking grave, but without offering explanation; +for he seems busied with some calculation, or conjecture. + +"Indeed!" simultaneously exclaim the others, with interest rekindled, +Cypriano regarding him with earnest glance. + +"Yes, indeed, young masters," proceeds the gaucho. "The thing I now +hold in my hand has once, and not very long ago, been in the hands of a +Tovas Indian!" + +"A Tovas!" exclaims Cypriano, excitedly. "What reason have you for +thinking so?" + +"The best of all reasons. Because, so far as is known to me, no other +Chaco Indians but they use the _bola perdida_. That ball has been +handled, mislaid, and left here behind by a Tovas traitor. You are +right, _senorito_," he adds, speaking to Cypriano. "Whoever may have +murdered my poor master, your uncle, Aguara is he who has carried off +your cousin." + +"Let us on!" cries Cypriano, without another word. "O, Ludwig!" he +adds, "we mustn't lose a moment, nor make the least delay. Think of +dear Francesca in the power of that savage beast. What may he not do +with her?" + +Ludwig needs no such urging to lead him on. His heart of brother is +boiling with rage, as that of son almost broken by grief; and away ride +they along the trail, with more haste and greater earnestness than ever. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +OBSTRUCTED BY A "BISCACHERA." + +In their fresh "spurt," the trackers had not proceeded very far when +compelled to slacken speed, and finally come to a dead stop. This from +something seen before them upon the plain which threatens to bar their +further progress--at least in the course they are pursuing. + +The thing thus obstructing causes them neither surprise nor alarm, only +annoyance; for it is one with which they all are familiar--a +_biscachera_, or warren of _biscachas_. + +It is scarce possible to travel twenty miles across the plains bordering +the La Plata or Parana, without coming upon the burrows of this singular +rodent; a prominent and ever-recurring feature in the scenery. There +the _biscacha_, or _viscacha_--as it is indifferently spelt--plays +pretty much the same part as the rabbit in our northern lands. It is, +however, a much larger animal, and of a quite different species or +genus--the _lagostoinus trichodactylus_. In shape of head, body, and +other respects, it more resembles a gigantic rat; and, like the latter, +it has a long tapering tail, which strengthens the resemblance. But, +unlike either rabbit or rat, its hind feet are furnished with but three +toes; hence its specific name, _trichodactylus_. The same scarcity of +toes is a characteristic of the _agoutis, capivaras_, and so called +"Guinea pigs," all of which are cousins-german of the _biscacha_. + +The latter makes its burrows very much in the same manner as the +North-American marmot (_Arctomys Ludoviciana)_, better known by the name +of "prairie dog;" only that the subterranean dwellings of the _biscacha_ +are larger, from the needs of a bigger-bodied animal. But, strange to +say, in these of the pampa there exists the same queer companionship as +in those of the prairie--a bird associating with the quadruped--a +species of owl, the _Athene cunicularia_. This shares occupation with +the _biscacha_, as does the other, an allied species, with the prairie +dog. Whether the bird be a welcome recipient of the beast's +hospitality, or an intruder upon it, is a question still undetermined; +but the latter seems the more probable, since, in the stomachs of owls +of the northern species, are frequently found prairie dog "pups;" a fact +which seems to show anything but amicable relations between these +creatures so oddly consorting. + +There is yet another member of these communities, apparently quite as +much out of place--a reptile; for snakes also make their home in the +holes both of _biscacha_ and prairie dog. And in both cases the reptile +intruder is a rattlesnake, though the species is different. In these, +no doubt, the owls find their staple of food. + +Perhaps the most singular habit of the _biscacha_ is its collecting +every loose article which chances to be lying near, and dragging all up +to its burrow; by the mouth of which it forms a heap, often as large as +the half of a cart-load dumped carelessly down. No matter what the +thing be--stick, stone, root of thistle, lump of indurated clay, bone, +ball of dry dung--all seem equally suitable for these miscellaneous +accumulations. Nothing can be dropped in the neighbourhood of a +_biscacha_ hole but is soon borne off, and added to its collection of +_bric-a-brac_. Even a watch which had slipped from the fob of a +traveller--as recorded by the naturalist. Darwin--was found forming +part of one; the owner, acquainted with the habits of the animal, on +missing the watch, having returned upon his route, and searched every +_biscacha_ mound along it, confident that in some one of them he would +find the missing article--as he did. + +The districts frequented by these three-toed creatures, and which seem +most suitable to their habits, are those tracts of _campo_ where the +soil is a heavy loam or clay, and the vegetation luxuriant. Its +congener, the _agouti_, affects the arid sterile plains of Patagonia, +while the _biscacha_ is most met with on the fertile pampas further +north; more especially along the borders of those far-famed thickets of +tall thistles--forests they might almost be called--upon the roots of +which it is said to feed. They also make their burrows near the +_cardonales_, tracts overgrown by the cardoon; also a species of large +malvaceous plant, though quite different from the pampas thistles. + +Another singular fact bearing upon the habits of the _biscacha_ may here +deserve mention. These animals are not found in the Banda Oriental, as +the country lying east of the Uruguay river is called; and yet in this +district exist conditions of soil, climate, and vegetation precisely +similar to those on its western side. The Uruguay river seems to have +formed a bar to their migration eastward; a circumstance all the more +remarkable, since they have passed over the Parana, a much broader +stream, and are common throughout the province of Entre Rios, as it name +imports, lying between the two. + +Nothing of all this occupies the thoughts of the three trackers, as they +approach the particular _biscachera_ which has presented itself to their +view, athwart their path. Of such things they neither think, speak, nor +care. Instead, they are but dissatisfied to see it there; knowing it +will give them some trouble to get to the other side of it, besides +greatly retarding their progress. If they ride right across it at all, +they must needs go at a snail's pace, and with the utmost +circumspection. A single false step made by any of their horses might +be the dislocation of a joint, or the breaking of a leg. On the pampa +such incidents are far from rare; for the burrows of the _biscachas_ are +carried like galleries underground, and therefore dangerous to any heavy +quadruped so unfortunate as to sink through the surface turf. In short, +to ride across a _biscachera_ would be on a par with passing on +horseback through a rabbit warren. + +"_Caspita_!" is the vexed exclamation of the gaucho, as he reins up in +front of the obstruction, with other angry words appended, on seeing +that it extends right and left far as the verge of vision, while forward +it appears to have a breadth of at least half a league. + +"We can't gallop across that," he adds, "nor yet go at even a decent +walk. We must crawl for it, _muchachos_, or ride all the way round. +And there's no knowing how far round the thing might force us; leagues +likely. It looks the biggest _biscachera_ I ever set eyes on. +_Carra-i-i_!" + +The final ejaculation is drawled out with a prolonged and bitter +emphasis, as he again glances right and left, but sees no end either +way. + +"Ill luck it is," he continues, after completing his reconnaissance. +"Satan's own luck our coming upon this. A whole country covered with +traps! Well, it won't help us any making a mouth about it; and I think +our best way will be to strike straight across." + +"I think so too," says Cypriano, impatient to proceed. + +"Let us on into it, then. But, _hijos mios_; have a care how you go. +Look well to the ground before you, and keep your horses as far from the +holes as you can. Where there's two near together steer midways +between, giving both the widest berth possible. Every one of them's a +dangerous pitfall. _Caspita_! what am I prattling about? Let me give +you the lead, and you ride after, track for track." + +So saying, he heads his horse in among the rubbish heaps, each with its +hole yawning adjacent: the others, as admonished, close following, and +keeping in his tracks. + +They move onward at a creeping pace, every now and then forced to +advance circuitously, but taking no heed of the creatures upon whose +domain they have so unceremoniously intruded. In truth, they have no +thought about these, nor eyes for them. Enough if they can avoid +intrusion into their dwellings by a short cut downwards. + +Nor do the _biscachas_ seem at all alarmed at the sight of such +formidable invaders. They are anything but shy creatures; instead, far +more given to curiosity; so much that they will sit squatted on their +hams, in an upright attitude, watching the traveller as he passes within +less than a score yards of them, the expression on their faces being +that of grave contemplation. Only, if he draw too familiarly near, and +they imagine him an enemy, there is a scamper off, their short fore-legs +giving them a gait also heightening their resemblance to rats. + +As a matter of course, such confidence makes them an easy prey to the +_biscacha_ catcher; for there are men who follow taking them as a +profession. Their flesh is sweet and good to eat, while their skins are +a marketable commodity; of late years forming an article of export to +England, and other European countries. + +Heeding neither the quadrupeds, nor the birds, their fellow-tenants of +the burrow--the latter perched upon the summits of the mounds, and one +after another flying off with a defiant screech as the horsemen drew +near--these, after an hour spent in a slow but diligent advance, at +length, and without accident, ride clear of the _biscachera_, and out +upon the smooth open plain beyond it. + +Soon as feeling themselves on firm ground, every spur of the party is +plied; and they go off at a tearing pace, to make up for the lost time. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +A SHOULDER OUT OF JOINT. + +When Gaspar, on first sighting the _biscachera_, poured forth vials of +wrath upon it, he little dreamt that another burrow of similar kind, and +almost at the very same hour, was doing him a service by causing not +only obstruction, but serious damage to the man he regards as his +greatest enemy. + +This second warren lay at least a hundred miles from the one they have +succeeded in crossing, in a direction due east from the latter, and on +the straight route for the city of Assuncion. + +Let us throw aside circumlocution, and at once give account of the +incident. + +On this same day, and, as already said, almost the same hour, when the +trackers are brought up by the _biscachera_, a single horseman is seen +with head turned towards the Paraguay, and making as if to reach this +river; from which he is distant some eighteen or twenty miles. He rides +at a rapid rate; and that he has been doing so for a long continuance of +time, can be told by the lagging gait of his horse, and the sweat +saturating the animal's coat from neck to croup. For all, he slackens +not the pace; instead, seems anxious to increase it, every now and then +digging his spurs deep, and by strokes of a spear shaft he carries in +his hands, urging his roadster onward. Anyone witness to his acting in +this apparently frantic fashion, would suppose him either demented, or +fleeing from pursuers who seek nothing less than his life. But as the +plain over which he rides is smooth, level, and treeless for long +leagues to his rear as also to right and left, and no pursuer nor aught +of living thing visible upon it, the latter, at least, cannot be the +case. And for the former, a glance at the man's face tells that neither +is insanity the cause of his cruel behaviour to his horse. Rufino +Valdez--for he is the hastening horseman--if bad, is by no means mad. + +Superfluous to say, what the errand pressing him to such speed. In +soliloquy he has himself declared it: hastening to communicate news +which he knows will be welcome to the Paraguayan tyrant, and afterwards +return to Halberger's _estancia_ with a party of those hireling +soldiers--quaintly termed _cuarteleros_ from their living in barracks, +or _cuartels_. + +With this sinister purpose in view, and the expectation of a rich +reward, the _vaqueano_ has given his roadster but little rest since +parting from the Tovas' camp; and the animal is now nigh broken down. +Little recks its rider. Unlike a true gaucho, he cares not what +mischance may befall his steed, so long as it serves his present +necessity. If it but carry him to the Paraguay, it may drop down dead +on the river's bank, for aught he will want, or think of it afterwards. + +Thus free from solicitude about his dumb companion, he spurs and flogs +the poor creature to the best speed it is able to make. Not much this; +for every now and then it totters in its steps, and threatens going to +grass, in a way different from what it might wish. + +"About twenty miles," the _vaqueano_ mutters to himself, with a glance, +cast inquiringly ahead. "It can't be more than that to the river +itself. Question is, whether I can make it anywheres near Assuncion. +I'm not sure about this trail; evidently only a cattle run. It may lead +me too much above or below. In any case," he adds, "I must bring out +near one of the _guardias_, so thick along the bank, and the soldiers of +the post will ferry me across. From there I'll have a good road to the +town." + +So consoling himself, he keeps on; no longer paying much attention to +the doubtful cattle track, but rather taking guidance from the sun. +This going down is directly behind his back, and so tells him the due +course east, as well as west; for it is eastward he wishes to go. Now, +near the horizon, it casts an elongated shadow of himself and his +animal, far to the front; and after this he rides, as though following +in the footsteps of some giant on horseback! + +The sun soon after setting, the shadow changes, veering round to his +rear. But it is now made by the moon, which is also low in the sky; +only before his face, instead of behind his back. For it would be the +season of harvest--were such known in the Chaco--and the moon is at her +full, lighting up the _campo_ with a clearness unknown to northern +lands. + +Were it otherwise, Rufino Valdez might have halted here, and been forced +to stay in the Chaco for another night. But tempted by the bright +moonlight, and the thought of his journey so near an end, he resolves +differently; and once more pricking his tired, steed with spurs long +since blood-clotted, he again forces it into a gallop. + +But the pace is only for a short while sustained. Before going much +further he feels his horse floundering between his legs; while a glance +to the ground shows him he is riding through a _biscachera_! + +Absorbed in thought--perhaps perfecting some wicked scheme--he had not +noticed the burrow till now. Now he sees it--holes and heaps all around +him--at the same time hearing the screeches of the owls, as the +frightened birds fly up out of his path. + +He is about to draw bridle, when the reins are suddenly jerked from his +grasp--by his horse, which has gone headlong to the ground! At the same +instant he hears a sound, like the cracking of a dead stick snapped +crosswise. It is not that, but the shank of his horse, broken above the +pastern joint! It is the last sound he hears then, or for some time +after; he himself sustaining damage, though of a different kind--the +dislocation of a shoulder-blade--that of the arm already injured--with a +shock which deprives him of his senses. + +Long lies he upon that moonlit plain, neither hearing the cries of the +night birds nor seeing the great ratlike quadrupeds that, in their +curiosity, come crowding close to, and go running around him! + +And though consciousness at length returns, he remains in that same +place till morning's light--and for the whole of another day and night-- +leaving the spot, and upon it his broken-legged horse, himself to limp +slowly away, leaning upon his guilty spear, as one wounded on a +battle-field, but one who has been fighting for a bad cause. + +He reaches Assuncion--though not till the third day after--and there +gets his broken bones set. But for Gaspar Mendez, there may have been +luck in that shoulder-blade being put out of joint. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +THE BAROMETER-TREE. + +After passing the _biscachera_, the trackers have not proceeded far, +when Caspar again reins up with eyes lowered to the ground. The others +seeing this, also bring their horses to a stand; then watch the gaucho, +who is apparently engaged with a fresh inspection of the trail. + +"Have you found anything else?" asks Cypriano. + +"No, _senorito_. Instead, I've lost something." + +"What?" inquire both, in a breath. + +"I don't any longer see the tracks of that shod horse. I mean the big +one we know nothing about. The pony's are here, but as for the other, +they're missing." + +All three now join in a search for them, riding slowly along the trail, +and in different directions backward and forward. But after some +minutes thus passed, their search proves fruitless; no shod hoof-print, +save that of the pony, to be seen. + +"This accounts for it," mutters Caspar, giving up the quest, and +speaking as to himself. + +"Accounts for what?" demands Cypriano, who has overheard him. + +"The return tracks we saw on the other side of the camp ground. I mean +the freshest of them, that went over the ford of the stream. Whoever +rode that horse, whether red or white man, has parted from the Indians +at their camping-place, no doubt after staying all night with them. Ha! +there's something at the back of all this; somebody behind Aguara and +his Indians--that very somebody I've been guessing at. He--to a dead +certainty." + +The last sentences are not spoken aloud; for as yet he has not confided +his suspicions about Francia and Valdez to his youthful comrades. + +"No matter about this shod horse and his back-track," he continues, once +more heading his own animal to the trail. "We've now only to do with +those that have gone forward, and forward let us haste." + +While speaking he strikes his ponderous spurs against his horse's ribs, +setting him into a canter, the others starting off at the same pace. + +For nearly an hour they continue this rate of speed, the conspicuous +trail enabling them to travel rapidly and without interruption. It +still carries them up the Pilcomayo, though not always along the river's +immediate bank. At intervals it touches the water's edge, at others +parting from it; the deflections due to "bluffs" which here and there +impinge upon the stream, leaving no room for path between it and their +bases. + +When nearing one of these, of greater elevation than common, Gaspar +again draws his horse to a halt; though it cannot be the cliff which has +caused him to do so. His eyes are not on it, but turned on a tree, +which stands at some distance from the path they are pursuing, out upon +the open plain. It is one of large size, and light green foliage, the +leaves pinnate, bespeaking it of the order _leguminosae_. It is in fact +one of the numerous species of _mimosas_, or sensitive plants, common on +the plains and mountains of South America, and nowhere in greater +number, or variety, than in the region of the Gran Chaco. + +Ludwig and Cypriano have, in the meantime, also drawn up; and turning +towards the tree at which Caspar is gazing, they see its long slender +branches covered with clusters of bright yellow flowers, these evidently +the object of his attention. There is something about them that calls +for his closer scrutiny; since after a glance or two, he turns his +horse's head towards the tree, and rides on to it. + +Arrived under its branches, he raises his hand aloft, plucks off a spray +of the flowers, and dismounting, proceeds to examine it with curious +minuteness, as if a botanist endeavouring to determine its genus or +species! But he has no thought of this; for he knows the tree well, +knows it to possess certain strange properties, one of which has been +his reason for riding up to it, and acting as he now does. + +The other two have also drawn near; and dismounting, hold their horses +in hand while they watch him with wondering eyes. One of them cries +out-- + +"What now, Caspar? Why are you gathering those flowers?" It is +Cypriano who speaks, impatiently adding, "Remember, our time is +precious." + +"True, master," gravely responds the gaucho; "but however precious it +is, we may soon have to employ it otherwise than in taking up a trail. +If this tree tells truth, we'll have enough on our hands to take care of +ourselves, without thinking of Indians." + +"What mean you?" both interrogated together. + +"Come hither, _senoritos_, and set your eyes on these flowers!" + +Thus requested they comply, leading their horses nearer to the tree. + +"Well?" exclaims Cypriano, "I see nothing in them; that is, nothing that +strikes me as being strange." + +"But I do," says Ludwig, whose father had given him some instruction in +the science of botany. "I observe that the corollas are well nigh +closed, which they should not be at this hour of the day, if the tree is +in a healthy condition. It's the _uinay_; I know it well. We have +passed several on the way as we started this morning, but I noticed none +with the flowers thus shrivelled up." + +"Stand still a while," counsels Gaspar, "and watch them." + +They do as desired, and see what greatly surprises them. At least +Cypriano is surprised; for the young Paraguayan, unlike his half-German +cousin, unobservant of Nature generally, has never given a thought to +any of its particular phenomena; and that now presented to his gaze is +one of the strangest. For while they stand watching the _uinay_, its +flowers continue to close their corollas, the petals assuming a shrunk, +withered appearance. + +The gaucho's countenance seems to take its cue from them, growing graver +as he stands contemplating the change. + +"_Por Dios_!" he at length exclaims, "if that tree be speaking truth, +and I never knew of the _uinay_ telling lies, we'll have a storm upon us +within twenty minutes' time; such a one as will sweep us out of our +saddles, if we can't get under shelter. Ay, sure it's going to be +either a _temporal_ or _tormenta_! And this is not the where to meet +it. Here we'd be smothered in a minute, if not blown up into the sky. +Stay! I think I know of a place near by, where we may take refuge +before it's down upon us. Quick, _muchachos_! Mount, and let us away +from here. A moment lost, and it may be too late; _vamonos_!" + +Leaping back into their saddles, all three again go off in a gallop; no +longer upon the Indian trail, but in a somewhat different direction, the +gaucho guiding and leading. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +THE CAPTIVE TRAIN. + +Just about the same time that the party of trackers had turned to take +departure from the barometer-tree, a cavalcade of a very different kind, +and composed of a greater number of individuals, is moving over the +plain, some forty or fifty miles distant. It is the party being +tracked; Aguara and his band of young braves on return to the _tolderia_ +of their tribe; the one now become their permanent place of abode. + +More than one change has taken place in the Indian cohort since it +passed over the same ground going downward. In number it is still the +same; but one of them does not sit erect upon his horse; instead, lies +bent across the animal's back, like a sack of corn. There he is fast +tied to keep him from tailing off, for he could do nothing to prevent +this--being dead! He it was who came forth from the _sumac_ grove +wounded by Halberger's bullet, and the wound has proved fatal; this +accounting for the pieces of _sipos_ seen at their camping-place. + +Another change in the composition of the party is, that the white man, +Valdez, is no longer with it. Just as Gaspar had conjectured, from +seeing the return tracks of his horse, he had parted company with the +Indians at their first encampment, on the night after the murder. +Another and very different individual, has taken his place at the head +of the troop. The daughter of the murdered man who now rides by the +side of the young Tovas chief! + +Though a captive, she is not bound. They have no fear of her attempting +to escape; nor does she even think of it. Though ever so well mounted, +she knows such an attempt would be idle, and on her diminutive roadster, +which she still rides, utterly hopeless. Therefore, since the moment of +being made captive, no thought of escaping by flight had even entered +her mind. + +With her long yellow hair hanging dishevelled over her shoulders, her +cheeks white as lilies, and an expression of utter woe in her eyes, she +sits her saddle seemingly regardless of where she is going, or whether +she fall off and get trampled under the hoofs of the horses coming +behind. It alone, her pony might wander at will; but alongside Aguara's +horse it keeps pace with the latter, its meek, submissive look, seeming +to tell of its being as much a prisoner as its mistress. + +Beyond the bereavement she has suffered by her father's death--for she +saw him struck down, and believes him to be dead--no ill-treatment has +been offered her: not even insult. Instead, the young cacique has been +making efforts to gain her good will! He pretends innocence of any +intent to take her father's life, laying it all on the shoulders of +Valdez. Giving reasons too, not without some significance, and an air +of probability. For was not the _vaqueano_ an old enemy of her father, +while they were resident in Paraguay? The young Tovas chief has learnt +this from Valdez himself, and does not fail to speak of it to his +prisoner. Further, he pretends it was on account of this very crime the +_vaqueano_ has committed, that he parted company with them--in short, +fled, fearing punishment had he accompanied them back to their town. + +In this manner the wily Indian does all he can to mislead his captive, +as they journey along together. + +Captive, he does not call her; in this also feigning pretence. He tells +her that the reason for their not taking her direct to the _estancia_ +is, because of a party of Guaycurus, their enemies, being out on the war +path, and it was to discover the whereabouts of these he and his +followers were out scouting, when the sad mischance, as he flippantly +terms it, arose. That having learnt where the hostile Indians were, he +had needs return at once and report to the warriors of his tribe; thus +the excuse for his not seeing her to her home. They could not leave her +alone in the wilderness, and therefore of necessity she was going with +them to their town; afterwards to be taken back to the _estancia_--to +her mother. With such false tales, cunningly conceived, does he +endeavour to beguile the ears of his captive. + +For all that they are not believed; scarcely listened to. She, to whom +they are told, has reasons for discrediting them. Though but a child in +years, Francesca Halberger is not childish in understanding. The +strange experiences and perils through which she, and all related to +her, had passed, have given her the discernment of a more mature age; +and well comprehends she her present situation, with other misfortunes +that have led to it. She is not ignorant of the young chief's +partiality for herself; more than once made manifest to her in signs +unmistakable--by acts as well as words. Besides, what he is not aware +of, she had overheard part of the speech which passed between him and +the _vaqueano_, as the latter was entering the _sumac_ grove, to do that +deed which has left her without a father. Instead, therefore, of +Aguara's words deceiving her into a false confidence, they but +strengthen the feeling of repulsion she has all along had for him. +Whether listening or not, she makes no reply to what he says, nor even +deigns to look at him. Sitting listless, dejected, with her eyes +habitually bent upon the ground, she rides on as one who has utterly +abandoned herself to despair. Too sad, too terribly afflicted with what +is past, she appears to have no thoughts about the future, no hopes. +Or, if at intervals one arises in her mind, it rests not on him now by +her side, but her father. For as yet she knows not that Naraguana is +dead. + +If somewhat changed the _personnel_ of the Indian troop, much more is it +altered in the general aspect and behaviour of those who compose it--a +very contrast to what was exhibited on their way downward. No longer +mirthful, making the welkin ring with their jests and loud laughter; +instead, there is silence upon their lips, sadness in their hearts, and +gloom--even fear--on their faces. For they are carrying home one of +their number a corpse, and dread telling the tale of it. What will the +elders say, when they hear what has occurred? What do? + +The feeling among Aguara's followers may be learnt from a dialogue, +carried on between two of them who ride in the rear of the troop. They +have been speaking of their paleface captive, and extolling her charms, +one of them saying how much their young cacique is to be envied his good +luck, in possession of such a charming creature. + +"After all, it may bring him into trouble," suggests the more sage of +the speakers, adding, "ay, and ourselves as well--every one of us." + +"How that," inquires the other. + +"Well; you know, if Naraguana had been living, he would never have +allowed this." + +"But Naraguana is not living, and who is to gainsay the will of Aguara? +He's now our chief, and can do as he likes with this captive girl, or +any other. Can't he?" + +"No; that he can't. You forget the elders. Besides, you don't seem to +remember the strong friendship that existed between our old cacique and +him the _vaqueano_ has killed. I've heard say that Naraguana, just +before his death, in his last words, left a command we should all stand +by the palefaced stranger, her father, and protect him and his against +every enemy, as long as they remained in the Chaco. Strange protection +we've given him! Instead, help to the man who has been his murderer! +And now returning home, with his daughter a captive! What will our +people think of all this? Some of them, I know, were as much the white +man's friend almost as Naraguana himself. Besides, they won't like the +old cacique's dying injunction having been thus disregarded. I tell +you, there'll be trouble when we get back." + +"No fear. Our young chief is too popular and powerful. He'll not find +any one to oppose his will; which, as I take it, is to make this little +paleface his wife, and our queen. Well, I can't help envying him; she's +such a sweet thing. But won't the Tovas maidens go mad with jealousy! +I know one--that's Nacena--" + +The dialogue is interrupted by a shout heard from one who rides near the +front of the troop. It is a cry as of alarm, and is so understood by +all; at the same time all comprehending that the cause is something seen +afar off. + +In an instant every individual of the party springs up from his sitting +posture, and stands erect upon the back of his horse, gazing out over +the plain. The corpse alone lies still; the captive girl also keeping +her seat, to all seeming heedless of what has startled them, and caring +not what new misfortune may be in store for her. Her cup of sorrow is +already full, and she recks not if it run over. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +CAUGHT IN A DUST-STORM. + +At the crisis described, the Indian party is no longer travelling upon +the Pilcomayo's bank, nor near it. They have parted from it at a point +where the river makes one of its grand curves, and are now crossing the +neck of the peninsula embraced within its windings. This isthmus is in +width at least twenty miles, and of a character altogether different +from the land lying along the river's edge. In short, a sterile, +treeless expanse, or "travesia"--for such there are in the Chaco--not +barren because of infertility in the soil, but from the want of water to +fertilise it. Withal, it is inundated at certain periods of the year by +the river's overflow, but in the dry season parched by the rays of a +tropical sun. Its surface is then covered with a white efflorescence, +which resembles a heavy hoar frost; this, called _salitre_, being a sort +of impure saltpetre, left after the evaporation and subsidence of the +floods. + +They have entered this cheerless waste, and are about midway across it, +when the cry of alarm is heard; he who gave utterance to it being older +than the others, and credited with greater knowledge of things. That +which had caught his attention, eliciting the cry, is but a phenomenon +of Nature, though not one of an ordinary kind; still, not so rare in the +region of the Chaco; since all of them have more than once witnessed it. +But the thing itself is not yet apparent save to him who has shouted, +and this only by the slightest sign giving portent of its approach. For +it is, in truth, a storm. + +Even after the alarmist has given out his warning note, and stands on +his horse's hips, gazing off in a certain direction, the others, looking +the same way, can perceive nothing to account for his strange behaviour. +Neither upon the earth, nor in the heavens, does there appear anything +that should not be there. The sun is coursing through a cloudless sky, +and the plain, far as eye can reach, is without animate object upon it; +neither bird nor beast having its home in the _salitre_. Nothing +observable on that wide, cheerless waste, save the shadows of themselves +and their horses, cast in dark _silhouette_ across the hoary expanse, +and greatly elongated; for it is late in the afternoon, and the sun +almost down to the horizon. + +"What is it?" asks Aguara, the first to speak, addressing himself to the +Indian who gave out the cry. "You appear to apprehend danger?" + +"And danger there is, chief," returns the other. "Look yonder!" He +points to the level line between earth and sky, in the direction towards +which they are travelling. "Do you not see something?" + +"No, nothing." + +"Not that brown-coloured stripe just showing along the sky's edge, low, +as if it rested on the ground?" + +"Ah, yes; I see that. Only a little mist over the river, I should say." + +"Not that, chief. It's a cloud, and one of a sort to be dreaded. See! +it's rising higher, and, it I'm not mistaken, will ere long cover the +whole sky." + +"But what do you make of it? To me it looks like smoke." + +"No; it isn't that either. There's nothing out that way to make fire-- +neither grass nor trees; therefore, it can't be smoke." + +"What, then? You appear to know!" + +"I do. 'Tis _dust_." + +"Dust! A drove of wild horses? Or may they be mounted? Ah! you think +it's a party of Guaycurus?" + +"No, indeed. But something we may dread as much--ay, more--than them. +If my eyes don't deceive me, that's a _tormenta_." + +"Ha!" exclaims the young cacique, at length comprehending. "A +_tormenta_, you think it is?" + +The others of the band mechanically mutter the same word, in like tones +of apprehension. For although slow to perceive the sign, even yet but +slightly perceptible, all of them have had experience of the danger. + +"I do, chief," answers he interrogated. "Am now sure of it." + +While they are still speaking it--the cloud--mounts higher against the +blue background of sky, as also becomes more extended along the line of +the horizon. Its colour, too, has sensibly changed, now presenting a +dun yellowish appearance, like that mixture of smoke and mist known as a +"London fog." But it is somewhat brighter, as though it hung over, +half-concealing and smothering, the flames of some grand conflagration. + +And as they continue regarding it, red corruscations begin to shoot +through its opaque mass, which they can tell to be flashes of lightning. +Yet all this while, upon the spot where they have pulled up the sun is +shining serenely, and the air still and tranquil as if gale or breeze +had never disturbed it! + +But it is a stillness abnormal, unnatural, accompanied by a scorching +heat, with an atmosphere so close as to threaten suffocation. + +This, however, lasts but a short while. For in less than ten minutes +after the cloud was first descried, a wind reaches them blowing directly +from it at first, in puffs and gusts, but cold as though laden with +sleet, and so strong as to sweep several of them from the backs of their +horses. Soon after all is darkness above and around them. Darkness as +of night; for the dust has drifted over the sun, and its disc is no +longer visible--having disappeared as in a total eclipse, but far more +suddenly. + +It is too late for them to retreat to any place of shelter, were one +ever so near, which there is not. And well know they the danger of +being caught in that exposed spot; so well that the scene now exhibited +in their ranks is one of fright and confusion. + +Terrified exclamations are sent up on all sides, but only one voice of +warning, this from him who had first descried the cloud. + +"From your horses!" he calls out, "take shelter behind them, and cover +your faces with your _jergas_! If you don't you'll be blinded +outright." + +His counsel acts as a command; though it is not needed, all of them, as +himself, sensible of the approaching peril. In a trice they have +dropped to the ground, and plucking the pieces of skins which serve them +as saddles, from the backs of their horses, muffle up their faces as +admonished. Then each clutching the halter of his own, and holding it +so as to prevent the animal changing position, they await the onslaught +of the storm. + +Meanwhile, Aguara has not been inactive. Instead of having seized the +pony's bridle-rein, he has passed round to the rear of the troop, +leading his captive along with him; for the wind strikes them in front. +There in the lee of all, better sheltered, he dismounts, flings his arms +around the unresisting girl, and sets her afoot upon the ground. He +does all this gently, as though he were a friend or brother! For he has +not lost hope he may yet win her heart. + +"Star of my life," he says to her, speaking in the Tovas tongue, which +she slightly understands. "As you see we're in some danger, but it will +soon pass. Meanwhile, we must take steps to guard against it. So, +please to lie down, and this will protect you." + +While speaking, he takes the plumed cloak from his shoulders and spreads +it over those of the captive, at the same time covering her head with +it, as if it were a hood. Then he gently urges her to lie on the +ground. + +To all she submits mechanically, and without offering opposition; though +she little cares about the dust-storm--whether it blind or altogether +destroy her. + +Soon after it is on and over them in all its fury, causing their horses +to cower and kick, many screaming in affright or from the pain they have +to endure. For not only does the _tormenta_ carry dust with it, but +sand, sticks, and stones, some of the latter so large and sharp as often +to inflict severe wounds. Something besides in that now assailing them; +which sweeping across the _salitral_ has lifted the sulphureous +efflorescence, that beats into their eyes bitter and blinding as the +smoke of tobacco. But for having muffled up their faces, more than one +of the party would leave that spot sightless, if not smothered outright. + +For nearly an hour the tempest continues, the wind roaring in their +ears, and the dust and gravel clouting against their naked skins, now +and then a sharp angled pebble lacerating them. At times the blast is +so strong they have difficulty in keeping their places; still more in +holding their horses to windward. And all the while there is lightning +and thunder, the last loud and rolling continuously. At length the +wind, still keenly cold, is accompanied by a sleety rain, which pours +upon them in torrents, chill as if coming direct from the snowy slopes +of the Cordilleras--as in all likelihood it does. + +They know that this is a sign of the _tormenta_ approaching its end, +which soon after arrives; terminating almost as abruptly as it had +begun. The dust disappears from the sky, that which has settled on the +ground now covering its surface with a thick coating of mud--converted +into this by the rain--while the sun again shines forth in all its +glory, in a sky bright and serene as if cloud had never crossed it! + +The _tormenta_ is over, or has passed on to another part of the great +Chaco plain. + +And now the Tovas youths, their naked skins well washed by the shower, +and glistening like bronze fresh from the furnace--some of them, +however, bleeding from the scratches they have received--spring upon +their feet, re-adjust the _jergas_ on the backs of their horses, and +once more remount. + +Then their young chief, by the side of the captive girl, having returned +to his place at their head, they forsake that spot of painful +experience, and continue their journey so unexpectedly interrupted. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +A RUSH FOR SHELTER. + +It is scarce necessary to say, that the storm that over took the Indian +party was the same of which the barometer-tree had given warning to +Gaspar and his young companions. But although many a long league +separated the Indians from those following upon their trail, and it +would take the latter at least another day to reach the spot where the +former had met the _tormenta_, both were beset by it within less than +half-an-hour of the same time. The Indians first, of course, since it +came from the quarter towards which all were travelling, and therefore +in the teeth of pursuers as pursued. + +But the trackers were not called upon to sustain its shock, as those +they were tracking up. Instead of its coming upon them in an exposed +situation, before its first puffs became felt they were safe out of +harm's way, having found shelter within the interior of a cavern. It +was this Gaspar alluded to when saying, he knew of a place that would +give them an asylum. For the gaucho had been twice over this ground +before--once on a hunting excursion in the company of his late master; +and once at an earlier period of his life on an expedition of less +pleasant remembrance, when, as a captive himself, he was carried up the +Pilcomayo by a party of Guaycuru Indians, from whom he was fortunate in +making escape. + +His knowledge of the cave's locality, however, was not obtained during +his former and forced visit to the district they are now traversing; but +in that made along with the hunter-naturalist; who, partly out of +curiosity, but more for geological investigation, had entered and +explored it. + +"It's by the bank of a little _arroyo_ that runs into the Pilcomayo, +some three or four miles above the big river. And, as I take it, not +much further from where we are now. But we must make a cross-cut to +reach it in the quickest time." + +This Gaspar says as they part from the barometer-tree. Following out +his intention he heads his horse towards the open plain, and forsakes +the Indian trail, the others following his lead. + +They now go in full gallop, fast as their horses can carry them; for +they have no longer any doubts about the coming on of a _tormenta_. The +forecast given them by the flowers of the _uinay_ is gradually being +made good by what they see--a dun yellowish cloud rising against the +horizon ahead. The gaucho well understands the sign, soon as he sees +this recognising it as the dreaded dust-storm. + +It approaches them just as it had done the Indians. First the +atmosphere becoming close and hot as the interior of an oven; then +suddenly changing to cold, with gusts of wind, and the sky darkening as +though the sun were eclipsed. + +But, unlike the others, they are not exposed to the full fury of the +blast; neither are they in danger of being blinded by the sulphureous +dust, nor pelted with sticks and stones. Before the storm has thus +developed itself they reach the crest of the cliff overhanging the +_arroyo_; and urging their horses down a sloping path remembered by +Gaspar, they get upon the edge of the stream itself. Then, turning up +it, and pressing on for another hundred yards, they arrive at the +cavern's mouth, just as the first puff of the chilly wind sweeps down +the deep rut-like valley through which the _arroyo_ runs. + +"In time!" exclaims the gaucho. "Thanks to the Virgin, we're in time! +with not a second to spare," he adds, dismounting, and leading his horse +into the arching entrance, the others doing the same. + +Once inside, however, they do not give way to inaction; for Gaspar well +knows they are not yet out of danger. + +"Come, _muchachos_," he cries to them, soon as they have disposed of +their animals, "there's something more to be done before we can call +ourselves safe. A _tormenta's_ not a thing to be trifled with. There +isn't corner or cranny in this cave the dust wouldn't reach to. It +could find its way into a corked bottle, I believe. _Carramba_! there +it comes!" + +The last words are spoken as a whiff of icy wind, now blowing furiously +down the ravine, turns into the cavern's mouth, bringing with it both +dust and dry leaves. + +For a moment the gaucho stands in the entrance gazing out; the others +doing likewise. Little can they see; for the darkness is now almost +opaque, save at intervals, when the ravine is lit up by jets of forked +and sheet lightning. But much do they hear; the loud bellowing of wind, +the roaring of thunder, and the almost continuous crashing of trees, +whose branches break off as though they were but brittle glass. And the +stream which courses past close to the cave's mouth, now a tiny mulct, +will soon be a raging, foaming torrent, as Gaspar well knows. + +They stay not to see that, nor aught else. They have other work before +them--the something of which the gaucho spoke, and to which he now +hastily turns, crying out-- + +"Your ponchos, my lads! Get them, quick! We must close up the entrance +with them, otherwise we'll stand a good chance of being smothered. +_Vaya_!" + +Neither needs urging to haste. Young as they are, they too have had +experience of a _tormenta_. More than once they have witnessed it, +remembering how in their house, near Assuncion, it drove the dust +through the keyholes of me doors, finding its way into every crack and +crevice, making ridges across the floor, just as snow in northern +lands--of which, however, they know nothing, save from what they have +read, or been told by one who will tell them of such things no more. + +In a few seconds' time, three ponchos--for each possesses one--are +snatched from the cantles of their saddles, and as speedily spread +across the entrance of the cave--just covering it, with not an inch to +spare. With like speed and dexterity, they join them together, in a +rough but firm stitching done by the nimble fingers of the gaucho--his +thread a strip of thong, and for needle the sharp terminal spine of the +_pita_ plant--one of which he finds growing near by. They attach them +at top by their knife blades stuck into seams of the stratified rock, +and at bottom by stones laid along the border; these heavy enough to +keep them in place against the strongest gust of wind. + +All this done, they breathe freely, now feeling secure; and after a last +look at the screen to assure himself of its being reliable, the gaucho +turns to his companions, quietly remarking, "Now, _muchachos_, I fancy +we need have no more fear of Mr Tormenta." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +AN UNWELCOME INTRUDER. + +As they are now in the midst of amorphous darkness, it might be imagined +nothing could be done but keep their place, or go groping idly about. +Not so, however. Gaspar has no intention of letting the time pass in +such an unprofitable manner; instead, he at once resumes speech, and +along with it action. + +"Now, young masters," he says, making a movement towards the place where +they had left their horses, "since we are shut up here, I don't see why +we shouldn't make ourselves as comfortable as we can under the +circumstances; and the best way to begin will be with what's usually the +winding up of a day's work--that's supper. Our bit of rough riding has +given me the appetite of a wolf, and I feel as if I could eat one +red-raw. Suppose we have another set-to at the shoulder of mutton? +What say you, _senoritos_?" + +They answer in the affirmative, both being as hungry as himself. + +"We sha'n't have to eat in darkness either," he proceeds. "Luckily, +I've brought with me a bit of candle--best wax at that. A costly affair +it was when whole; being one of a pair I had to pay for when my poor +mother died, to be used at her funeral, and for which the rascally +_padres_ charged me five _pesos_ a-piece--because consecrated, as they +called out. As they stood me so much, I thought I might as well save +the stumps; which I did, and have got one of them here. Starting out, +it occurred to me we might some time need it, as you see we do now; so I +slipped it into my saddle-bags." + +While speaking, he has moved on to his horse, and got beside him without +much straying; for his former visit to the cavern has made him familiar +with its topography, and he could go anywhere through it without a +glimmer of light to guide him. Plunging his hand into his ample +_alparejas_, and rummaging about for a short while, he gets hold of the +bit of unburnt candle--souvenir of a melancholy ceremony, which, +however, he had long ceased to mourn over, since his mother has been +dead for many years. + +He has drawn it out; removed the scrap of buckskin in which it was +wrapped; and with flint and steel is proceeding to strike a light, when +a sound reaches his ears that causes him to suspend operations, and +stand intently listening for its repetition. + +Simultaneously has it been heard by the other two, as also by the three +horses; these last, on hearing it, showing their affright by a series of +snorts, while they dance about over the floor of the cavern. For it is +a sound which, heard in any part of tropical America, whether on sunlit +plain or in shady forest, strikes terror to the heart of all who hear +it, be it man, bird, or beast. No living creature in that land but +dreads the cry of the jaguar. + +"_El tigre_!" exclaims Gaspar in a subdued tone, his voice half-drowned +by a second roar from the great feline, this time louder and more +prolonged. + +"Where is it?" they ask one another hurriedly, and in whispers, fearing +to speak out. For loud as is the creature's voice as it reverberates +through the hollow cavity, what with the bellowing of the wind and the +trampling of their horses' hoofs on the hard rock, it is impossible to +tell whence it came, and whether the jaguar be outside the cavern or +within. About this there is a difference of opinion among them, but +only for an instant--all three agreeing, as for the third time the +terrifying note is sounded. Then they believe it to have come from +outside. But again they as quickly differ, at hearing a fourth +repetition of it; this as certainly seeming to have been uttered inside +the cavern. Once more changing their minds, when, for the fifth time, +the beast gives out its grand roar; since along with it they hear +another sound as of some heavy body hurling itself against the screen of +spread ponchos, too solid to be mistaken for a puff of wind. Beyond +doubt, it is the tiger seeking admittance to the cave! + +Though but a few minutes have elapsed since its first fierce note fell +upon their ears, they have not stood idly listening. Instead, all three +have groped the way to their horses, got hold of their guns, and +returned to take stand near the entrance. Gaspar, moreover, has lit the +stump of candle, and stuck it upon a projecting point of rock; for he +knows the _tigre_, like other cats, can see in the darkness, and would +thus have the advantage of them. + +Soon again it treats them to another bit of trumpeting, this time more +angrily intoned, as if demanding shelter from the storm, and no doubt as +much surprised as puzzled at the strange obstruction debarring entrance +to the cave--in all likelihood its lair. + +They have stationed themselves in a line facing the screen, and with +guns cocked stand ready to fire at the beast, should it persist in its +intention to enter. But now, with the light shining upon the ponchos, +they see what appears to be its body pressing against these from the +outside, though quickly withdrawn, as if the creature recoiled from a +thing that awes while perplexing it. + +"Hadn't we better fire at it through the ponchos? Some one of us may +hit it." + +Cypriano makes the suggestion. + +"No," dissents Gaspar, "we might all miss that way; and if we did, +'twould drive the _tigre_ mad, and then--" + +He is interrupted by another cry from the jaguar; this a fierce scream, +showing the animal already maddened enough, or, at all events, madly +impatient, and determined no longer to endure exclusion from the cave. +For while still continuing that cry, it bounds up against the screen, +plucking the knives from their places, tossing off the stones, and +laying the entrance open. A gust of wind entering blows out the candle, +and all is again darkness. But not silence; for there are noises close +to where they stand, which they know must proceed from the jaguar, +though different from its former utterances, and to them quite +incomprehensible--a succession of growls, snorts, and coughs, as if the +beast were being suffocated; while at the same time a heavy body seems +to be tumbling and struggling over the floor of the cavern! + +"By Saint Jago!" cries Gaspar, first to comprehend what it means, "the +brute's caught in our ponchos! He's bagged--smothered up! Fire into +him! Aim where you hear the noise. _Tira_!" + +At the word, their three guns go off together; and then, to make sure, +another shot additional from the double barrelled piece of Cypriano; +Ludwig's gun being the rifle that belonged to his father, found where +the latter had fallen. + +And sure work have their shots made of it. For as they stand in the +darkness listening, they hear neither growl, nor snort, nor coughing; +but, instead, only the wailing of wind and the rumbling of thunder. + +"Dead as a door-nail!" pronounces Gaspar, feeling his way to where he +had stuck the bit of bees'-wax, and once more setting it alight. Then +returning towards the entrance, he sees that he has in everything +rightly conjectured. For there, enveloped in the ponchos, with its +claws stuck fast into the close-woven fabric of wool, lies the great +spotted cat--not at full stretch, but doubled up into a shapeless lump, +as it had worked itself in its efforts to get free! Though all their +shots had hit it, some of the bullets passing through its body, a +quivering throughout its frame tells that life is not yet extinct. But +it is extinguished instantly after, by Gaspar laying hold of one of the +knives, and giving _el tigre_ the _coup de grace_ by a cut across its +throat; as he does so, saying-- + +"That's for your impudence--intruding yourself on three hungry +travellers about sitting down to supper!" + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +BETWEEN TORRENT AND TIGER. + +Having dragged the dead beast out of their ponchos, they are about to +re-adjust these as before, when it strikes them there is no longer any +need for closing the cave's mouth. The first blast of the _tormenta_ +having blown over, the dust borne upon it is now in less volume; while +the wind, rushing direct down the ravine, carries everything along with +it--only an occasional whiff seeking entrance into the cave. + +"For the matter of our being blinded," remarks the gaucho in perceiving +this, "we needn't trouble about shutting the door again. Though if I'm +not greatly out in my reckoning, there's something else may need keeping +out--a thing more dangerous than dust." + +"What thing?" he is asked. + +"Another _tigre_. I never knew one of these spotted beauties to be +about alone. They always hunt in couples; and where there's a female, +the male is sure to be with her. As you see, it's the lady we've closed +accounts with, and for certain the gentleman isn't far-off. Out in that +storm, he'll be in the same way making for this snug shelter. So we may +look for his worship to present himself at any moment." + +Ludwig and Cypriano turn their eyes towards the entrance, as though they +expected even then to behold the dreaded intruder. + +"To keep him out," pursues Gaspar in a more serious vein, "'twill be no +use putting up the ponchos. We can't trust to the old Tom entangling +himself, as did his _esposa_. That was all an accident. And yet we're +not safe if we leave the entrance open. As we've got to stay here all +night, and sleep here, we daren't close an eye so long as he's ranging +about. Instead, we'd have to lie awake, and on the alert." + +"Why can't we wall it up with those stones?" Cypriano thus +interrogates, pointing to some scattered boulders lying about the cave-- +large blocks that have broken off from its roof, and fallen upon the +floor. + +"Not a bad idea," rejoins Gaspar, "and one quite practicable," he adds, +with his eye taking in the dimensions of the cavern's mouth, but little +larger than an ordinary stable door. "You're right, Senor Cypriano; we +can do that." + +Without further speech, they set about the work; first rolling the +larger masses of stalactite towards the entrance to form the foundation +of the wall. But before having got half-a-dozen of them fixed in their +places, a sound reaches their ears which causes them suddenly to desist; +for all three recognise it as coming from the throat of a jaguar! Not a +loud roar, or scream, such as they heard when that lying dead first made +its presence known, but a sort of sniff or snort, as when it was +struggling, half-choked by the ponchos. Soon, however, as they stand +listening, the snorting changes into a long low growl, ending in a gruff +bark; as of a watch-dog awakened by some slight noise, for which he is +not sure of its being worth his while to forsake his kennel, or spring +upon his feet. + +Not thus doubtful are they. Instead, the sounds now heard excite and +terrify them as much as any that preceded; for they can tell that tiger +Number 2 is, as themselves, _within the cave_! + +"_Por Dios_!" exclaims Gaspar, in a low tone of voice, "it's the old Tom +sure, and inside too! Ha! that accounts for our not being certain about +the she. Both were yelling at the same time, answering one another. +Where can the brute be?" + +They turn their eyes toward the back of the cavern, but in the dim +glimmer can see nothing like a tiger. They only hear noises of +different kinds, made by their horses, then freshly affrighted, once +more sniffing the air and moving uneasily about. + +"Your guns!" cries Gaspar in hurried accents; "get them loaded again! +If the _tigre_ attack us, as it's almost sure to do, our knives will be +of little use. _Viva, muschachos_!" + +All together again lay hold of their guns; but where is the ammunition? +Stowed in a pair of holsters on the pommel of Cypriano's saddle, as they +well know--powder, balls, percussion-caps, everything. And where is the +horse himself; for, left loose, he has moved off to another part of the +cavern? + +Cypriano taking the candle in hand, they go in search of him. Soon to +see that the frightened animal has taken refuge in an angular embayment +between two projecting buttresses of rock, where he stands cowering and +trembling. + +They are about to approach him, going cautiously and with timid steps, +when, lo! on a ledge between, they perceive a long yellow body with +black spots lying astretch at one end of it, a pair of eyes giving back +the light of their candle, with a light almost as brilliant, and at +intervals flashing like fire. It is the jaguar. + +The sight brings them suddenly to a stand, even causing them to retreat +a step or two. For the ledge on which the _tigre_ crouches is directly +between them and Cypriano's horse, and to approach the latter they must +pass right under the former; since it is upon a sort of shelf, several +feet above the level of the ground. They at once see there is no hope +of reaching the needed ammunition without tempting the attack of the +tiger; which, by their movements, is becoming at every moment more +infuriated, and already seems about to spring upon them. Instinctively, +almost mechanically, they move further away, having abandoned the idea +of defending themselves with the guns, and fallen back on their only +other weapons, the knives. Ludwig counsels retreating altogether out of +the cave, and leaving their horses behind. Outside, the wind no longer +rages, and the dust seems to have blown past. They but hear the +pattering of rain, with peals of thunder, and the swish of the stream, +now swollen. But nothing of these need they fear. To the course +counselled Cypriano objects, as also Caspar; fearing for their horses, +almost sure to be sacrificed to the fury of the enraged jaguar. And +where would they be then? Afoot in the midst of the Chaco, helpless as +shipwrecked sailors on a raft in mid-ocean! + +For a while they remain undecided; only a short while, when they are +made aware of that which speedily brings them to a decision, and without +any will of their own. In putting space between themselves and the +dangerous beast, they have retreated quite up to the cavern's entrance. +There, looking out, they see that egress is debarred them. The stream, +swollen by the rain, still pouring down as in a deluge, has lipped up to +the level of the cave's mouth, and rushes past in an impetuous torrent, +crested, and carrying huge rocks, with the trunks and broken branches of +trees upon its seething current. Neither man nor horse might dare ford +it now. They are caught between a torrent and a tiger! + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +SAVED BY A SPITTING-DEVIL. + +To be shut up in a room with a royal Bengal tiger, or what amounts to +the same a cave of small dimensions, is a situation which no one will +covet. Nor would it be much improved were the tyrant of the Asiatic +jungles transformed into a jaguar--the despot of the American tropical +forests. For, although the latter be smaller, and less powerful than +the former, in an encounter with man it is equally fierce and dangerous. +As regards size, the male jaguar often reaches the measurement of an +Indian tigress; while its strength is beyond all proportion to its bulk. +Humboldt has made mention of one that dragged the carcase of a horse it +had killed across a deep, difficult ravine, and up to the top of a hill; +while similar feats have been recorded by Von Tschudi, Darwin, and +D'Orbigny. + +Familiar with its character and capabilities, no wonder, then, that our +gaucho and his companions should feel fear, as they take in the perils +besetting them. For there is no knowing how long the jaguar will keep +its patience, or its place; and when it shifts they may "look out for +squalls." They can still see it on the ledge; for although the light is +feeble, with some dust floating about, through this its glaring +eyeballs, as twin stars through a thin stratum of cloud, gleam coal-like +and clear. They can see its jaws, too, at intervals open to emit that +cry of menace, exposing its blood-red palate, and white serrature of +teeth--a sight horrifying to behold! All the while its sinewy tail +oscillates from side to side, now and then striking the rock, and +breaking off bits of stalactites, that fall in sparkling fragments on +the floor. At each repetition of its growl the horses show fresh +affright, and dance madly about. For the instinct of the dumb animals +seems to admonish them, they are caged with a dangerous companion--they +and it alike unable to part company. Their masters know this, and +knowing it, are all the more alarmed. A fight is before them; and there +appears no chance of shunning it--a hand-to-hand fight, their +short-bladed knives against the sharp teeth and claws of a jaguar! + +For a time they stand irresolute, even Gaspar himself not knowing what +to do. Not for long, however. It would not be the gaucho to surrender +to despair. Instead, a thought seems suddenly to have occurred to him-- +a way of escape from their dilemma--as evinced by his behaviour, to the +others yet incomprehensible. + +Parting from them, he glides off in the direction of his horse; which +happens to be nearest, like Cypriano's cowering in a crevice of the +rock. Soon beside it, he is again seen to plunge his hand into the +_alparejas_, and grope about, just as when searching for the stump of +candle. + +And now he draws forth something very similar--a packet with a skin +covering, tied with a bit of string. Returning to them, and removing +the wrapper, he exposes to view a half-dozen little rolls, in shape +somewhat like regalia cigars, sharp-pointed at one end, and barbed as +arrows. + +At a glance, both boys see what they are. They have not been brought up +in a country where bull-fighting, as in all Spanish America, is the +principal pastime, without having become acquainted with most matters +relating to it. And what Gaspar has brought before their eyes are some +_torterillas_, or spitting-devils, used, along with the _banderillas_ +for rousing the fury of the bull while being goaded by the _picadores_ +round the arena, before the _matador_ makes his final assault. Gaspar, +who in early life has played _picador_ himself in the bull-fights of San +Rosario, knows how to manufacture all the implements pertaining to the +_funcion de toros_, and has usually kept a stock of _torterillas_ on +hand, chiefly for the amusement of the Tovas youths, who were accustomed +to visit the _estancia_. + +Often, while dwelling at Assuncion, had he witnessed the wonder and +delight with which the savages who came there regarded all sorts of +fireworks; and it had occurred to him that, in the event of their +encountering strange Indians, some "spitting-devils" might prove of +service. So, at starting out on their present expedition, just as with +the bit of wax candle, he had tossed a packet of them into his +saddle-bags. + +He does not give this explanation till afterwards. Now there is no time +for talking; he must act, and instantly. But how he intends acting, or +what he means to do with the _torterillas_, neither of his youthful +comrades can tell or guess. + +They are not kept long in ignorance. Snatching the candle from +Cypriano, who has been carrying it--with this in one hand and a +_torterilla_ in the other--he moves off in the direction of the ledge, +where luckily the jaguar still lies astretch. Possibly the reports of +the guns have cowed it to keeping its place. Whether or no, it has kept +it without change of attitude or position; though at intervals giving +utterance to long low growls, with an occasional bark between. + +Advancing cautiously, and in silence, the gaucho gets within six paces +of it. This he deems near enough for his purpose; which, by this time, +the others comprehend. It is to cast the _torterilla_ at the tiger, +and, if possible, get the barbed point to penetrate the creature's skin, +and there stick. + +He makes the attempt, and succeeds. First having put the primed end +into the candle's flame, and set the fuse on fire, he launches the +"Devil" with such sure aim, that it is seen to fix itself in the +jaguar's back, just over the right shoulder. + +The brute, feeling the sting, starts to its feet with an angry scream; +this instantly changing to a cry of affright, as the caked powder +catches fire, and fizzing up, envelopes it in a shower of sparks. Not a +second longer stays it on the ledge, but bounding off makes for the +cave's mouth, as if Satan himself had taken hold of its tail. So sudden +and unexpected is its retreat, that Ludwig and Cypriano, to get out of +the way, go tumbling over the stones; while Gaspar comes nigh doing the +same; in the scramble dropping the candle, and of course extinguishing +it. But the light goes out only with the jaguar itself; the brute +bounding on with the sparks like the tail of a comet streaming behind, +illumining the whole cavern, and causing the stalactites to glitter and +sparkle, as if its roof were frosted with real diamonds! + +In an instant after, all is darkness; simultaneously with the light +going out, a sound reaching their ears, as of some solid body, falling +heavily upon water--which they know to be the tiger plunging into the +stream. That puts out the "spitting-devil," and no doubt along with it, +or soon after, the life of the animal it had so affrighted; for even the +king of American beasts could not escape being drowned in that foaming, +seething flood. + +Soon as satisfied that the enemy is _hors de combat_, and the coast +clear, Gaspar gropes about for the candle, and finding, once more lights +it. Then in his usual fashion, winding up with some quaint remark, he +says:-- + +"No more caterwauling to-night, I fancy, unless the kittens be about +too. If they be, it'll give us a bit of sport, drowning them. Now, +_senoritos_! I think we may sit down to supper, without fear of being +again baulked of our _mate_ and mutton." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +A ROCK-BOUND SLEEPING ROOM. + +As the darkness, due to the storm, has now been succeeded by the more +natural darkness of night, the trackers, for this day, cannot proceed +further, were they ever so eager. Besides, there is another bar to +their continuing; one still more directly obstructive, even forbidding +their exit from the cave. This, the _arroyo_, which now in full flood +fills the ravine up to the cliff's base, there leaving no path for +either man or horse. That by which they approached is covered beyond +fording depth, with a current so swift as to sweep the strongest animal +from its feet, even were it an elephant. And to attempt reaching the +opposite side by swimming, would only result in their getting carried +down to be drowned to a certainty, or have the life crushed out of them +on the rocks below. + +Gaspar knowing all this, does not dream of making any such rash +experiment. On the contrary, as he has signified, he designs them to +remain all night in the cavern. Indeed, there is no alternative, as he +observes, explaining how egress is forbidden, and assuring them that +they are, in point of fact, as much prisoners as though the doors of a +jail were shut and locked upon them. + +Their imprisonment, however, need not last till the morning; so far as +the flood is concerned. And this he also makes known to them, himself +aware that the waters in the _arroyo_, will subside as rapidly as they +had risen. It is one of those short rivulets, whose floods are over +almost as soon as the rain which causes them. Looking out again near +the hour of midnight, they see his prediction verified. The late +swollen and fast-rushing stream has become reduced to nearly its normal +dimensions, and runs past in gentle ripple, while the moon shining full +upon it, shows not a flake of foam. + +They could even now pass out of the cave, and on up the cliff where they +came down, if they desired to do so. More, they might with such a clear +moon, return to the river's bank and continue on along the trail they +had forsaken. A trail so plain as it, could be followed in a light far +more faint; at least, so think they. So believing, Cypriano, as ever +impatient to get on, is greatly inclined to this course, and chafes at +the irksomeness of delay. But Gaspar objects, giving his reasons. + +"If we were to go on now," he says, "it wouldn't better us a bit. All +we'd gain by it would be the league or so from this to the river. Once +there, and attempting to travel up its bank, we'd find scores of little +creeks that run into it, in full freshet, and have to swim our horses +across them. That would only lose time, instead of gaining it. Now, by +daybreak, they'll all be down again, when we can travel straight on +without being delayed by so many stoppages. I tell you, Senor Cypriano, +if we start now, it'll be only to find the old saying true, `More haste, +worse speed.'" + +He to whom this speech is addressed perceives the application of the +adage, and admitting it, yields the point. + +"Besides," adds the gaucho, by way of clinching his argument, "we've got +to spend part of the night somewhere, and have some sleep. If we keep +on without that, it may end in our breaking dead down, which would be +worse than being a little behind time. We all stand in need of rest +now. Speaking for myself, I want it badly; and I'm sure so does Master +Ludwig and you too, _senorito_! If we were to leave the cave, and seek +for it anywhere outside, we'd find the ground soaking wet, and, like +enough, every one of us get laid up with a spell of rheumatics. Here +we'll be as snug as a _biscacha_ in its hole; and, I take it, will sleep +undisturbed by the squalling of any more cats." + +As Cypriano makes no further opposition, it is decided that they remain +in the cave till morning. + +The little incident as above, with the conversation which accompanies +it, does not take place immediately after the tiger had been disposed +of; for they have eaten supper since. By good luck, some sticks were +found in the cave, half-burnt faggots, the remains of a fire no doubt +left by a party of Indian hunters, who had also spent a night there. +With these they were enabled to boil their kettle, and make a _mate_ of +their favourite _yerba_ tea; while the "knuckle" of mutton and some +cakes of corn bread still left, needed no cooking. It is after all this +was over, and they had been some time conversing on the many strange +incidents which occurred to them throughout the day, that they became +aware of the flood having fallen, and escape from their rock-bound +prison possible. Then succeeded the discussion recorded. + +At its termination, as nothing more can be done, and all feeling +fatigued, to go to rest is naturally the next move. Their horses have +already been attended to by the removal of the riding gear, while some +rough grass found growing against the cliff, near the cave's entrance +outside, has been cut and carried in to them. + +A slight grooming given to the animals, and it but remains to make their +own beds. This done, by simply spreading their _jergas_ and +_caronillas_ along the flinty stalagmites, each having his own _recado_ +for a pillow. Their ponchos, long since pulled apart, and the dust +cuffed out of them, are to serve for what they really are--blankets; a +purpose to which at night they are put by all gauchos and most +Argentinos--as much as they are used during day time for cloak or +greatcoat. + +Each wrapping himself up in his own, all conversation ceases, and sleep +is sought with closed eyes. This night it is found by them in a +succession somewhat changed. As on that preceding, Ludwig is first +asleep; but almost instantly after it is Gaspar, not Cypriano, who +surrenders to the drowsy god; filling the hollow cavity with his +snoring, loud as that often heard to proceed from the nostrils of a +tapir. He well knows they are safe within that rock-bound chamber; +besides that he is tired dead down with the day's exertion; hence his so +soon becoming oblivious. + +Cypriano is the last to yield. But he, too, at length gives way, and +all is silent within the cavern, save the "crump-crump" of the horses +munching their coarse provender, with now and then a hoof striking the +hard rock. But louder than all is that raucous reverberation sent up by +the slumbering gaucho. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +THE "SACRED TOWN." + +While the pursuing party is peacefully reposing upon the stalagmites of +the cavern, that pursued reaches its destination--the "Sacred town" of +the Tovas. + +The _tolderia_, so named, stands upon a level plain, near the shore of a +large and beautiful lake, whose numerous low-lying islets, covered with +a thick growth of the _moriche_, have the appearance of palm-groves +growing direct out of the water itself. + +A belt of the same stately trees borders the lake all around, broken +here and there by projecting headlands; while away over the adjacent +_campo_, on the higher and drier ground, are seen palms of other and +different species, both fan-leaved and pinnate, growing in copses or +larger "montes," with evergreen shrubs and trees of deciduous foliage +interspersed. + +At some three or four hundred yards from the lake's edge, a high hill +rises abruptly above the plain--the only elevation within many miles. +Thus isolated, it is visible from afar, and forms a conspicuous feature +of the landscape; all the more remarkable on account of its singular +shape, which is the frustrum of a cone. Though its sides are of steep +pitch, they are thickly wooded to the summit; trees of large size +standing upon its table-like top. But something more than trees stand +there; the scaffolds upon which are laid the bodies of the Tovas dead; +hundreds of which may be seen in all stages of decay, or shrivelled and +desiccated by the dry winds and sun of the Chaco till they resemble +Egyptian mummies. For it is the "Cemetery Hill," a spot hallowed in the +hearts of these Indians, and so giving the title of "Sacred" to this +particular place, as the town adjacent to it. The latter is situated +just under the hill, between its base and the shore of the lake. No +grand city, as might be supposed from such a high-sounding name, but +simply a collection of palm and bamboo _toldos_, or huts, scattered +about without any design or order; each owner having been left free to +select the site of his frail tenement, since among the Tovas municipal +regulations are of the simplest and most primitive character. True, +some dwellings, grander and more pretentious than the common, are +grouped around an open space; in the centre of which is one much larger +than any of the others, its dimensions equalling a dozen of them. This +is not a dwelling, however, but the _Malocca_, or House of Parliament. +Perhaps, with greater propriety, it might be called "Congress Chamber," +since, as already hinted at, the polity of the Tovas tribe is rather +republican than monarchical. + +Strange, as sad, that in this republic of redskins, and so-called +savages, should exist the same political contradiction as among some +other republican communities, having the name of civilised. For +although themselves individually free, the Tovas Indians do not believe +in the doctrine that all men should be so; or, at all events, they do +not act up to it. Instead, their practice is the very opposite, as +shown by their keeping numbers of slaves. Of these they have hundreds, +most of them being Indians of other tribes, their enemies, whom they +have made captive in battle. But to the Tovas master it signifies +little what be the colour of his bondman's skin, whether white or red; +and many of the former, women as well as men, may be seen doing drudgery +in this same Sacred town--its hewers of wood and drawers of water. +These are also captives, the spoil of predatory incursions across the +Salado into the settlements of Santiago, Salto, and Tucuman. + +Most of these slaves, employed in the care of cattle, live apart from +their masters, in a sort of suburb, where the dwellings are of a less +permanent character than the ordinary _toldos_, besides being +differently constructed. They more resemble the tents, or wigwams, of +the North-American Indians; being simply a number of poles set in a +circle, and tied together at the tops; the hides of horses covering +them, instead of the buffalo skins which serve a similar purpose on the +northern prairies. + +It may seem strange that captives with white skins, thus left unguarded, +do not make their escape. But no; those so kept do not even seek or +desire it. Long in captivity, they have become "Indianised," lost all +aspirations for liberty, and grown contented with their lot; for the +Tovas are not hard taskmasters. + +On the night of that same day, when the _tormenta_ overtook them, Aguara +and his party approach the Sacred town, which is about twenty miles from +the edge of the _salitral_, where the trail parts from the latter, going +westward. The plain between is no more of saline or sterile character; +but, as on the other side, showing a luxuriant vegetation, with the same +picturesque disposal of palm-groves and other tropical trees. + +The hour is late--nigh to midnight--as the captive train passes under +the shadow of the Cemetery Hill, making round to where the _tolderia_ +stands; for both lake and town are on the west side of the hill. + +Well may the young cacique feel something of fear, his face showing it, +as he glances up to that elevated spot where he so late laid the corpse +of his father. Were that father living, he, the son, would not be +passing there with the daughter of Ludwig Halberger as his captive. +Even as it is, he can fancy the spirit of the deceased cacique hovering +over the hill, and looking frowningly, reproachfully, down upon him! + +As if to escape from such imaginary frowns, he gives the lash to his +horse; and setting the animal into a gallop, rides on alone--having +first placed the captive under the charge of one of his followers. + +On reaching the _tolderia_, however, he does not go direct to his own +dwelling, which is the largest of those adjacent to the _malocca_. Nor +yet enters he among the _toldos_; but, instead, makes a wide circuit +around them, taking care not to awake those sleeping within. The place +for which he is making is a sort of half hut, half cave, close in to the +base of the hill, with trees overshadowing, and a rocky background of +cliff. + +Arrived in front of this solitary dwelling, he dismounts, and, drawing +aside the horse's skin which serves as a swing door, calls out:-- + +"Shebotha!" + +Presently a woman appears in the opening--if woman she could be called. +For it is a hag of most repulsive appearance; her face half hidden by a +tangle of long hair, black, despite old age indicated by a skin +shrivelled and wrinkled as that of a chameleon. Add to this a pair of +dark grey eyes, deep sunken in their sockets, for all gleaming +brilliantly, and you have the countenance of Shebotha--sorceress of the +Tovas tribe--one of cast as sinister as ever presented itself in a +doorway. + +She speaks not a word in answer to the friendly salutation of the +cacique; but stands silent in bent, obeisant attitude, with her skinny +arms crossed over her breast, as it waiting to hear what he would +further say. His words are by way of command: + +"Shebotha! I've brought back with me a captive--a young girl of the +palefaces. You must take charge of her, and keep her here in your hut. +She's not yet come up, but will presently. So get things ready to +receive her." + +Shebotha but bends lower, with an inclination of the head, to imply that +his instructions will be attended to. Then he adds-- + +"No one must see, or converse with her; at least, not for a time. And +you mustn't admit any one inside your _toldo_, except the witless white +creature, your slave. About him it don't signify. But keep out all +others, as I know you can. You understand me, Shebotha?" + +She makes answer in the affirmative, but, as before, only by a nod. + +"Enough!" is the young chief's satisfied rejoinder, as he vaults back +upon his horse, and rides off to meet the captive train, which he knows +must be now near. + +That night, as for other nights and days succeeding, Francesca Halberger +has this horrid hag for a hostess, or rather the keeper of her prison; +since the unhappy girl is in reality kept and guarded as a prisoner. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. + +TASTE AFTER POWDER. + +Long before daylight penetrates the interior of the cavern, or shows its +first streak on the sky outside, the trackers are up and active. + +A hasty breakfast is prepared; but, as the mutton bone is now quite +bare, they have to fall back on another kind of flesh-meat, which the +provident Caspar has brought along. This is _charqui_, or as it is +called by English-speaking people "jerked beef;" in all likelihood a +sailor's pseudonym, due to some slight resemblance, between the English +word "jerked," and the Guarani Indian one _charqui_, as pronounced by +South American people. + +_Charqui_ is simply beef cut into long, thin strips, then hung over a +rope or rail, and exposed to a hot sun--in the absence of this, to a +fire--till the juices are thoroughly dried out of it. Thus prepared, it +will keep for weeks, indeed months. + +The reason for so preserving it, is the scarcity of salt, which in the +districts where _charqui_ prevails, is difficult to be got at, and, in +consequence, dear. Most of the beef imported from the La Plata, under +the name of "jerked beef," is not _charqui_, but simply meat cured with +salt. Beef is preserved by a similar process throughout most parts of +Spanish America, as in Mexico, and California, and for the same reason; +but in these countries it is termed _tasajo_, and sometimes _cecina_. + +_Charqui_ is by no means a dainty viand; not nice either to the nose or +palate. Those portions of it which have not had sufficient sun in the +drying process, become tainted, and the odour is anything but agreeable. +For all, it serves a purpose in those countries where salt is a scarce +commodity; and cooked--as all Spanish Americans cook it--with a +plentiful seasoning of onions, garlic, and chili, the "gamey" flavour +ceases to be perceptible. Above all, it is a boon to the traveller who +has a long journey to make through the uninhabited wilderness, with no +inns nor post-houses at which he may replenish his spent stock of +provisions. Being dry, firm, and light, it can be conveniently carried +in haversack, or saddle-bags. + +By Caspar's foresight, there is a packet of it in Ludwig's _alparejas_, +where all the other provisions are stowed; and a piece cut from one of +the strips, about the length of a Bologna sausage, makes breakfast for +all three. Of the Paraguay tea they have a good store, the _yerba_ +being a commodity which packs in small space. + +Their morning meal is dismissed with slight ceremony; and soon as eaten, +they recaparison their horses; then leading them out of the cavern, +mount, and are off. As the _arroyo_ has long since shrunk to its +ordinary level, and the path along the base of the bluff is dry as when +trodden by them in their rush for shelter from the storm, they have no +difficulty in getting out. So on they ride up the steep acclivity to +the cliff's crest; which last is on a level with the pampa itself. + +But on reaching it, a sight meets their eyes--it is now daylight-- +causing a surprise to Ludwig and Cypriano; but to Gaspar something +more--something akin to dismay. For the sage gaucho mentally sees +further than either of his less experienced companions; and that now +observed by him gives token of a new trouble in store for them. The +plain is no longer a green grassy savanna, as when they galloped across +it on the afternoon preceding, but a smooth expanse, dark brown in +colour, its surface glittering under the red rays of the rising sun, +whose disc is as yet but half visible above the horizon! + +"_Santos Dios_!" exclaims the gaucho, as he sits in his saddle, +contemplating the transformation, to him no mystery. "I thought it +would be so." + +"How very strange!" remarks Ludwig. + +"Not at all strange, _senorito_; but just as it should be, and as we +might have expected." + +"But what has caused it?" + +"Oh, cousin," answered Cypriano, who now comprehends all. "Can't you +see? I do." + +"See what?" + +"Why, that the dust has settled down over the plain; and the rain coming +after, has converted it into mud." + +"Quite right, Senor Cypriano," interposes Gaspar; "but that isn't the +worst of it." + +Both turn their eyes upon him, wondering what worse he can allude to. +Cypriano interrogates:-- + +"Is it some new danger, Gaspar?" + +"Not exactly a danger, but almost as bad; a likelihood of our being +again delayed." + +"But how?" + +"We'll no longer have track or trace to guide us, if this abominable +sludge extend to the river; as I daresay it does. There we'll find the +trail blind as an owl at noontide. As you see, the thing's nearly an +inch thick all over the ground. 'Twould smother up the wheel-ruts of a +loaded _carreta_." + +His words, clearly understood by both his young companions, cause them +renewed uneasiness. For they can reason, that if the trail be +obliterated, their chances of being able to follow the route taken by +the abductors will be reduced to simple guessing; and what hope would +there be searching that way over the limitless wilderness of the Chaco? + +"Well?" says Gaspar, after they had remained for some moments gazing +over the cheerless expanse which extends to the very verge of their +vision, "it won't serve any good purpose, our loitering here. We may as +well push on to the river, and there learn the worst--if worst it's to +be. _Vamonos_!" + +With this, the Spanish synonym for "Come along!" the gaucho gives his +horse a dig in the ribs, with spur rowels of six inches diameter, and +starts off at a swinging pace, the others after. + +And now side by side go all three, splashing and spattering through the +mortar-like mud, which, flung up in flakes by their horses' hoofs, is +scattered afar in every direction. + +Half an hour of quick cantering brings them back upon the Pilcomayo's +bank; not where they had parted from it, but higher up, near the mouth +of the _arroyo_. For Gaspar did not deem it necessary to return to that +prophetic tree, whose forecast has proved so unfailing. To have gone +back thither would have been a roundabout of several miles, since they +had made a cross-cut to reach the cavern; and as on the way they had +seen nothing of the Indian trail, it must needs have continued up the +river. + +But now, having reached this, they cannot tell; for here, as on all the +plain over which they have passed, is spread the same coating of +half-dried dirt, fast becoming drier and firmer as the ascending +tropical sun, with strengthened intensity, pours his hot beams upon it. +It has smothered up the Indian's trail as completely as it snow several +inches deep lay upon it. No track there, no sign to show, that either +horses or men ever passed up the Pilcomayo's bank. + +"_Caspita_!" exclaims the gaucho, in spiteful tone. "It is as I +anticipated; blind as an old mule with a _tapojo_ over its eyes. May +the fiends take that _tormenta_!" + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. + +STOPPED BY A "RIACHO." + +For a time the trackers remain at halt, but without forsaking their +saddles, pondering upon what course they should pursue, or rather, what +direction they ought to take. + +Only a short while are they undecided. It seems good as certain that +the Indians have kept to the river, for some distance further on, at all +events. Therefore, it will be time enough to enter upon a more +prolonged deliberation, when they come to a point where this certainty +ceases. Thus reflecting, they start off afresh, with their horses' +heads as before. + +Going at good speed as ever, in a few minutes they arrive at the +confluence of the _arroyo_ with the greater river; the former here +running between banks less "bluffy" than above, where it passes the +cavern. Still they are of sufficient elevation to make a sharp descent +towards the channel of the stream, and a corresponding ascent on its +opposite side. But instead of an impediment, the trackers find this an +advantage; giving them evidence that the Indians have gone across the +_arroyo_. For their horses' tracks are distinctly traceable on the +steep faces of both banks; the dust either not having settled there, or +been washed off by the rain which fell after. + +Without difficulty they themselves ride across; for the rapid-running +stream has returned to its ordinary dimensions, and is now quite +shallow, with a firm gravelly bed. Once on its western side, however, +and up to the level of the _campo_ beyond, they are again at fault; in +fact, have reached the point spoken of where all certainty is at an end. +Far as they can see before them, the surface is smeared with mud, just +as behind, and no sign of a trail visible anywhere. Like enough the +Indians have still continued on along the river, but that is by no means +sure. They may have turned up the _arroyo_, or struck off across the +pampa, on some route known to them, and perhaps leading more direct to +whatever may be their destination. + +It is all conjecture now; and upon this they must rely. But the weight +of probability is in favour of the pursued party having kept to the +river, and Gaspar is of this opinion. After riding some distance up the +western bank of the _arroyo_, and seeing no trail or track there, he +again returns to where they had crossed, saying:-- + +"I think we may safely stick to the river. I'm acquainted with its +course for at least thirty leagues further up. At about half that +distance from here it makes a big elbow, and just there, I remember, an +old Indian path strikes off from it, to cross a _traveria_. Ha! that's +good as sure to be the route these redskins have taken. For now, I +think of it, the path was a big, broad road, and must have been +much-travelled by Indians of some kind or other. So, _muchachos_; we +can't do better than keep on to where it parts from the water's edge. +Possibly on the _traveria_, which chances to be a _salitral_ as well, we +may find the ground clear of this detestable stuff, and once more hit +off the _rastro_ of these murderous robbers." + +His young companions, altogether guided by his counsels, of course offer +no objection; and off they again go up the bank of the broad deep river. + +Nor less swiftly do they speed, but fast as ever. For they are not +impeded by the necessity of constantly keeping their eyes upon the +earth, to see if there be hoof-marks on it. There are none; or if any, +they are not distinguishable through the thick stratum of slime spread +over all the surface. But although going at a gallop, they do not get +over much ground; being every now and then compelled to pull up--meeting +obstructions they had not reckoned upon. These in the shape of numerous +little streamlets, flowing into the river, most of them still in freshet +from the late rain. One after another they ford them, none being so +deep as to call for swimming. But they at length come upon one of +greater depth and breadth than any yet passed, and with banks of such a +character as to bring them to a dead stop, with the necessity of +considering whether it can be crossed at all. For it is a watercourse +of the special kind called _riachos_, resembling the _bayous_ of +Louisiana, whose sluggish currents run in either direction, according to +the season of the year, whether it be flood-time or during the intervals +of drought. + +At a glance, Gaspar perceives that the one now barring their onward +progress is too deep to be waded; and if it be possible to pass over it, +this must be by swimming. Little would they regard that, nor any more +would their animals; since the pampas horse can swim like an otter, or +_capivara_. But, unfortunately, this particular _riacho_ is of a kind +which forbids even their swimming it; as almost at the same glance, the +gaucho observes, with a grunt expressing his discontent. On the +stream's further shore, the bank, instead of being on a level with the +water surface, or gently shelving away from it, rises abruptly to a +height of nigh six feet, with no break, far as can be seen, either +upward or downward. Any attempt to swim a horse to the other side, +would result in his being penned up, as within the lock-gates of a +canal! + +It is plainly impossible for them to cross over there; and, without +waiting to reflect further, the gaucho so pronounces it; saying to the +others, who have remained silently watching him:-- + +"Well, we've got over a good many streams in our morning's ride, but +this one beats us. We can't set foot on the other side--not here, at +all events." + +"Why?" demands Cypriano. + +"Because, as you can see, _senorito_, that water's too deep for wading." + +"But what of that? We can swim it, can't we?" + +"True, we could; all that and more, so far as the swimming goes. But +once in there, how are we to get out again? Look at yonder bank. +Straight up as a wall, and so smooth a cat couldn't climb it, much less +our horses; and no more ourselves. If 'twere a matter of wading we +might; but, as I can see, all along yonder edge it's just as deep as in +mid-stream; and failing to get out, we'd have to keep on plunging about, +possibly in the end to go under. _Carramba_! we mustn't attempt to make +a crossing here." + +"Where then?" demands Cypriano, in torture at this fresh delay, which +may last he knows not how long. + +"Well," rejoins the gaucho, reflectingly, "I think I know of a place +where we may manage it. There's a ford which can't be very far from +this; but whether it's above or below, for the life of me I can't tell, +everything's so changed by that detestable _tormenta_, and the ugly coat +of plaster it has laid over the plain! Let me see," he adds, +alternately turning his eyes up stream and down, "I fancy it must be +above; and now I recollect there was a tall tree, a _quebracha_, not far +from the ford. Ha!" he exclaims, suddenly catching sight of it, +"there's the bit of timber itself! I can tell it by that broken branch +on the left side. You see that, don't you, _hijos mios_?" + +They do see the top of a solitary tree with one branch broken off, +rising above the plain at about two miles' distance; and they can tell +it to be the well-known species called _quebracha_--an abbreviation of +_quebrahacha_, or "axe-breaker," so named from the hardness of its wood. + +"Whether it be by wading or swimming," Gaspar remarks in continuance, +"we'll get over the _riacho_ up yonder, not far from that tree. So, +let's on to it, _senoritos_!" + +Without another word, they all wheel their horses about, and move off in +the direction of the _quebracha_. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. + +A FISH DINNER AT SECOND-HAND. + +As they make towards the tree, which has erst served others than +themselves as a guide to the crossing-place, the nature of the ground +hinders their going at great speed. Being soft and somewhat boggy, they +are compelled to creep slowly and cautiously over it. + +But at length they get upon a sort of ridge slightly elevated above the +general level, though still unsafe for fast travelling. Along this, +however, they can ride abreast, and without fear of breaking through. + +As they proceed onward, Gaspar gives them some further information about +the ford they are making for. + +"We can easily wade it," he says, "if this awkward and ill-timed +dust-storm hasn't changed it, as everything else. When poor dear master +and I went across--that would be about six months ago--the water wasn't +quite up to our stirrups; but, like as not, last night's downpour has +raised it too, and we'll have a swim for it. Well, that won't matter +much. There, at all events, we can get the horses out; as the bank +slopes off gently. So there'll be no fear of our being stuck or sent +floundering in the stream. A regular Indian road, crosses the _riacho_ +there, and has worn a rut running down to the channel on both sides." + +His hearers are pleased at this intelligence; Cypriano signifying so by +the laconic rejoinder-- + +"_Esta bueno_." + +Then follows an interval of silence; after which Gaspar, as if some new +thought had occurred to him, suddenly exclaims-- + +"_Santos Dios_! I'd forgotten that." + +"Forgotten what?" both inquire, with a surprised, but not apprehensive +look; for the gaucho's words were not in this tone. + +"Something," he answers, "which we ought to find at this very +crossing-place. A bit of good luck it's being here." + +"And what do you expect from it?" questions Cypriano. + +"I expect to learn whether we're still on the right track, or have +strayed away from it. We've been going by guesswork long enough; but, +if I don't greatly mistake we'll there see something to tell us whether +our guesses have been good or bad. If the redskins have come up the +river at all, it's pretty sure they also have crossed the _riacho_ at +this very ford, and we should there see some traces of them. Sure to +find them on the sloping banks, as we did by the _arroyo_. That will +count a score in our favour." + +By the time he has ceased speaking, they have reached the _quebracha_; +and, soon as under its shadow, Gaspar again reins up, telling the others +to do the same. It is not that he has any business with the beacon +tree, as with that which served them for a barometer; but simply, +because they are once more within sight of the stream--out of view since +they left its bank below. The ford is also before their eyes, visible +over the tops of some low bordering bushes. + +But what has now brought the gaucho to a stop is neither the stream, nor +its crossing-place; but a flock of large birds wading about in the +water, at the point where he knows the ford to be. Long-legged +creatures they are, standing as on stilts, and full five feet high, +snow-white in colour, all but their huge beaks, which are jet black, +with a band of naked skin around their necks, and a sort of pouch like a +pelican's, this being of a bright scarlet. For they are _garzones +soldados_, or "soldier-cranes," so-called from their red throats bearing +a fancied resemblance to the facings on the collar of a soldier's coat, +in the uniform of the Argentine States. + +"_Bueno_!" is the pleased exclamation which proceeds from the gaucho's +lips, as he sits contemplating the cranes. "We sha'n't have any +swimming to do here; the rain don't seem to have deepened the ford so +much as a single inch. You see those long-legged gentry; it barely wets +their feet. So much the better, since it ensures us against getting our +own wetted, with our baggage to the boot. Stay!" he adds, speaking as +if from some sudden resolve, "let's watch the birds a bit. I've a +reason." + +Thus cautioned, the others hold their horses at rest, all with their +eyes fixed upon the soldier-cranes; which still unconscious of intruders +in such close proximity, continue the occupation in which they were +engaged when first seen--that of fishing. + +Every now and then one darts its long bayonet-like beak into the water, +invariably drawing it out with a fish between the mandibles; this, after +a short convulsive struggle, and a flutter or two of its tail fins, +disappearing down the crane's capacious throat. + +"Having their breakfast," observes the gaucho, "or, I should rather call +it dinner," he adds, with a glance upward to the sky. "And the height +of that sun reminds me of its being high time for us to do something in +the same line, if I hadn't been already reminded of it by a hollow I +feel here." He places his spread palm over the pit of his stomach, and +then continues, "So we may as well dine now; though, sad to say, we +haven't a morsel to make a meal upon but that juiceless _charqui. +Santissima_! what am I thinking about? I verily believe my brains have +got bemuddled, like everything else. Nothing but _charqui_, indeed! +Ha! we'll dine more daintily, if I know what's what. Here, _senoritos_! +back your horses behind those bushes. Quick, gently." + +While speaking, he turns his own out of the path, and rides crouchingly +to the rear of the bushes indicated, thus putting a screen between +himself and the soldier-cranes. + +Following his example, the others do likewise, but without the slightest +idea of what he is going to be after next. + +Cypriano inquiring, receives the very unsatisfactory answer-- + +"You'll see." + +And they do see; first himself dismounting and tying his bridle to a +branch; then detaching his lazo from its ring in the saddle-tree, and +carefully adjusting its coils over his left arm. This done, he +separates from them, as he walks away, speaking back in a whisper:-- + +"Keep your ground, young masters, till I return to you, and if you can +help it, don't let the horses make any noise, or budge an inch. For +yourselves, _silencio_!" + +As they promise all this, he parts from them, and is soon out of sight; +their last glance showing him to be making for the ford, going with bent +body and crouched gait, as cat or cougar stealing upon its prey. + +For some ten minutes or so, they neither see nor hear more of him; and +can only conjecture that the design he has so suddenly conceived, has +something to do with the _garzones_. So believing, curiosity prompts +them to have another peep at these piscatory birds; which by standing up +in their stirrups--for they are still seated in the saddle--they can. +Looking over the tops of the bushes, they see that the cranes continue +fishing undisturbed, and seemingly unaware of an enemy being near, or +that danger threatens them. + +But not much longer are they left to enjoy this feeling of security. +While the two youths are still regarding them, first one, then another, +is observed to elevate its head to the full height of its long slender +neck; while here and there throughout the flock are heard cries of +warning or alarm; the frightened ones letting fall the fish already in +their beaks, while those not quite so much scared, suddenly swallow +them. But in another instant, all, as if by one impulse, give out a +simultaneous scream; then, rising together, spread their broad, +sail-like wings, and go flapping away. + +No, not all. One stays in the _riacho_; no longer to look after fish, +but with both wings outspread over the surface of the stream, beating +the water into froth--as it does so, all the while drawing nearer and +nearer to the nether bank! But its movements are convulsive and +involuntary, as can be told by something seen around its neck resembling +a rope. And a rope it is; the youths knowing it to be the _lazo_ they +late saw coiled over Caspar's arm, knowing also that he is at the other +end of it. He is hauling it in, hand over hand, till the captured bird, +passing under the high bank, disappears from their view. + +Soon, however, to re-appear; but now carried under the gaucho's arm. + +He cries out as he approaches them:-- + +"_Viva! muchachitos_! Give me congratulation, as I intend giving you a +good dinner. If we can call _charqui_ flesh, as I suppose we must, then +we shall have fish, flesh, and fowl, all the three courses. So we'll +dine sumptuously, after all." + +Saying which, he draws out his knife, and cuts open the crane's crop, +exposing to view several goodly-sized fish, fresh as if just cleared +from a draw-net! They are of various sorts; the riverine waters of +South America being noted for their wonderful multiplicity of both +genera and species. The Amazon and its tributaries, are supposed to +contain at least three thousand distinct species; a fact upon which the +American naturalist, Agassiz--somewhat of an empiric, by the way--has +founded a portion of his spurious fame, on the pretence of being its +discoverer. It was pointed out by a real naturalist, Alfred Wallace, +ten years before Agassiz ever set eyes on the Amazon; and its record +will be found in the appendix to Wallace's most interesting work +relating to this, the grandest of rivers. + +In the La Plata, and its confluent streams, are also many genera and +species; a question that gives Gaspar not the slightest concern, while +contemplating those he has just made the _garzon_ disgorge. Instead, he +but thinks of putting them to the broil. So, in ten minutes after they +are frizzling over a fire; in twenty more, to be stowed away in other +stomachs than that of the soldier-crane. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. + +ATTACKED BY GYMNOTI. + +Gaspar's promise to give them a dinner of the three orthodox courses-- +fish, flesh, and fowl--was only meant in a jocular sense. For the +flesh, their stock of _charqui_ is not drawn upon; and as to fowl, the +soldier-crane would be a still more unpalatable morsel. So it results +in their dining simply upon fish; this not only without sauce, but +swallowed at second-hand! + +While they are occupied in the eating it, the gaucho, seeming more +cheerful than usual, says:-- + +"I've a bit of good news for you, _hijos mios_." + +"Indeed! what?" is their eager inquiry. + +"That we are still upon the right road. The redskins have gone past +here, as I supposed they would." + +"You've discovered fresh traces of them, then?" + +"I have ever so many scratches of their horses' feet, where they slipped +in stepping down to the stream. Quite plain they are; I could +distinguish them some way off, and with half an eye, as I was hauling in +the _soldado_. Good news, I call it; since we won't have to take the +back-track anyhow. What's before us remains to be seen. Possibly, on +the other side we may light on something else, to tell the direction +they've taken. So, we'd better lose no time, but cross over." + +Hurriedly finishing their primitive repast, they spring back upon their +_recados_, and ride down to the ford. + +Once in the water, they find it not quite so shallow, as they had +supposed from seeing the _garzones_ wading about with but the slightest +portion of their shanks below the surface. For at the bottom is a +substratum of mud; a soft slimy ooze, firm enough to support the light +birds, but through which the heavier quadrupeds, further weighted with +themselves and their baggage, sink to their bellies. + +Gaspar is surprised at finding the ford in this condition. It was not +so when he passed over it before, and he can only account for the change +by the dust from the _tormenta_ having been blown in large quantities +into the stream, then carried down by the current, and settling over the +shallow crossing-place. + +Whatever the cause, they find it awkward work to wade through the sticky +slime. Still, they might have accomplished the crossing without +accident, and doubtless would have done so, but for an impediment of +another kind--one not only altogether unexpected, but far more to be +dreaded than any danger of their going head and ears over into the ooze. +For just as they have reached mid-stream, and are splashing and +floundering on, Gaspar, who is riding ahead, and shouting back +directions to the others, all at once finds his attention fully occupied +in looking to himself, or rather to his horse. For the animal has come +to a stop, suddenly and without any restraint of the rein, and stands +uttering strange snorts, while quivering throughout every fibre of its +frame! + +Glancing over his shoulder, the gaucho sees that the other horses have +also halted, and are behaving in a precisely similar manner, their +riders giving utterance to excited exclamations. Ludwig looks a picture +of astonishment; while, strange to say, on Cypriano's countenance the +expression is more one of alarm! And the same on the face of the gaucho +himself; for he, as the young Paraguayan comprehends the situation, and +well knows what has brought their horses so abruptly to a halt. + +"What is it, Gaspar?" questions Ludwig, now also alarmed at seeing the +others so. + +"Eels!" ejaculates the gaucho. + +"Eels! Surely you're jesting?" queries the incredulous youth. + +"No, indeed," is the hurried rejoinder. "I only wish it were a jest. +It's not, but a dire, dangerous earnest. _Santissima_!" he cries out, +in addition, as a shock like that of a galvanic battery causes him to +shake in his saddle, "that's a _lightning eel_, for sure! They're all +round us, in scores, hundreds, thousands! Spur your horses! Force them +forward, anyway! On out of the water! A moment wasted, and we're +lost!" + +While speaking, he digs the spurs into his own animal, with his voice +also urging it onward; they doing the same. + +But spur and shout as they may, the terrified quadrupeds can scarce be +got to stir from the spot where first attacked by the electric eels. +For it is by these they are assailed, though Gaspar has given them a +slightly different name. + +And just as he has said, the slippery creatures seem to be all around +them, coiling about the horses' legs, brushing against their bellies, at +intervals using the powerful, though invisible, weapon with which Nature +has provided them; while the scared quadrupeds, instead of dashing +onward to get clear of the danger, only pitch and plunge about, at +intervals standing at rest, as if benumbed, or shaking as though struck +by palsy--all three of them, breathing hard and loud, the smoke issuing +from their nostrils, with froth which falls in flakes, whitening the +water below. + +Their riders are not much less alarmed: they too sensibly feeling +themselves affected by the magnetic influence. For the subtle current +passing through the bodies of their horses, in like manner, and almost +simultaneously enters their own. All now aware that they are in real +danger, are using their utmost efforts to get out of it by spurring, +shouting to their animals, and beating them with whatever they can lay +their hands on. + +It is a desperate strife, a contest between them and the quadrupeds, as +they strive to force the latter forward, and from out of the perilous +place. Fortunately, it does not last long, or the end would be fatal. +After a short time, two of the three succeeded in reaching the bank: +these Gaspar and Cypriano; the gaucho, as he feels himself on firm +ground, crying out:-- + +"Thank the Lord for our deliverance!" + +But scarce has the thanksgiving passed his lips, when, turning face +towards the stream, he sees what brings the pallor back into his cheeks, +and a trembling throughout his frame, as if he were still under the +battery of the electric eels. Ludwig, lagging behind, from being less +able to manage his mount, is yet several yards from the shore, and what +is worse, not drawing any nearer to it. Instead, his horse seems stuck +fast in the mud, and is making no effort to advance; but totters on his +limbs as though about to lose them! And the youth appears to have lost +all control not only of the animal but himself; all energy to act, +sitting lollingly in his saddle, as if torpid, or half-asleep! + +At a glance Gaspar perceives his danger, knowing it of no common kind. +Both horse and rider are as powerless to leave that spot, as if held +upon it in the loop of a _lazo_, with its other end clutched in the +hands of a giant. + +But a _lazo_ may also release them; and at this thought occurring to him +opportunely, the gaucho plucks his own from the horn of his _recado_, +and with a wind or two around his head, casts its running noose over +that of the imperilled youth. It drops down over his shoulders, +settling around both his arms, and tightening upon them, as Gaspar, with +a half wheel of his horse, starts off up the sloping acclivity. In +another instant, Ludwig is jerked clean out of his saddle, and falls +with a splash upon the water. Not to sink below its surface, however; +but be drawn lightly along it, till he is hoisted high, though not dry, +upon the bank. + +But the gaucho's work is still unfinished; the horse has yet to be +rescued from his dangerous situation; a task, even more difficult than +releasing his rider. For all, it is not beyond the skill of Gaspar, nor +the strength of his own animal. Hastily unloosing his long, plaited +rope from the body of the boy, and readjusting the loop, he again flings +it forth; this time aiming to take in, not the head of Ludwig horse, but +the pommel and cantle of his high-back saddle. And just as aimed, so +the noose is seen to fall, embracing both. For Gaspar knows how to cast +a lasso, and his horse how to act when it is cast; the well-trained +animal, soon as he sees the uplifted arm go down again, sheering round +without any guidance of rein, and galloping off in the opposite +direction. + +In the present case, his strength proves sufficient for the demand made +upon it, though this is great; and the debilitated animal in the water, +which can do nought to help itself, is dragged to the dry land nearly as +much dead as alive. + +But all are saved, horses as well as riders. The unseen, but dangerous, +monsters are deprived of the prey they had come so near making capture +of; and Gaspar again, even more fervently than before, cries out in +gratitude-- + +"Thank the Lord for our deliverance!" + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +UNDER THE CAROB TREES. + +An attack by electric eels, however ludicrous the thing may seem, is not +so looked upon by those whose ill luck it has been to experience it. +That these slippery creatures possess a most dangerous power, and know +how to exert it, there is ample evidence in the accounts given of them +by many a truthful traveller. + +More than enough of it have had our heroes; for while escaping with +their lives, they have not got off altogether scatheless--neither +themselves, nor their horses. For, though now beyond reach of their +mysterious assailants, the latter stand cowering and quivering, +evidently disabled for that day, at least. To continue the journey upon +them, while they are in this condition, is plainly impossible. But +their riders do not think of it; they, too, feeling enfeebled--Ludwig +actually ill. For the electricity still affects them all, and it may be +some time before their veins will be freed from its influence. + +_Nolens volens_, for a time they must stay where they are, however they +may chafe at this fresh halt--as before, a forced one. But the gaucho, +with spirits ever buoyant, puts the best face upon it, saying, "After +all, we won't lose so much time. By this, our horses would have been +pretty well done up, anyhow, after such a hard day's work, floundering +through so much mud and crossing so many streams. Even without this +little bit of a bother, we'd have had to stop soon somewhere to rest +them. And what better place than here? Besides, as you see, the sun's +wearing well down, and it's only a question of three or four hours at +most. We can make that up by an earlier start, and a big day's journey, +to-morrow; when it's to be hoped we'll meet with no such obstructions as +have beset us to-day." + +Gaspar is not using arguments; for no one wishes to dispute with him. +Only speaking words of comfort; more especially addressing them to +Cypriano, who is, as ever, the impatient one. But he, as the gaucho +himself, sees the impossibility of proceeding further, till they and +their animals have had a spell of rest. + +For the purpose of obtaining this, they go in search of a suitable +camping-place; which they soon find within a grove of _algarobias_, at +some three or four hundred yards' distance from the ford. The trees +cover the sides of a little mound, or hillock; none growing upon its +summit, which is a grassy glade. And as the dust has either not settled +on it, or been washed off by the rain, the herbage is clean and green, +so too the foliage of the trees overshadowing it. + +"The very place for a comfortable camp," says Gaspar, after inspecting +it--the others agreeing with him to the echo. + +Having returned to the ford for their horses, and led them up to the +chosen ground, they are proceeding to strip the animals of their +respective caparisons, when, lo! the _alparejas_, and other things, +which were attached to the croup of Ludwig's saddle, and should still be +on it, are not there! All are gone--shaken off, no doubt, while the +animal was plunging about in the stream--and with as little uncertainty +now lying amidst the mud at its bottom. + +As in these very saddle-bags was carried their commissariat--_yerba, +charqui_, maize-bread, onions, and everything, and as over the +cantle-peak hung their kettle, skillet, _mates_ and _bombillas_, the +loss is a lamentable one; in short, leaving them without a morsel to +eat, or a vessel to cook with, had they comestibles ever so abundant! + +At first they talk of going back to the ford, and making search for the +lost chattels. But it ends only in talk; they have had enough of that +crossing-place, so dangerously beset by those _demonios_, as Gaspar in +his anger dubs the electric eels. For though his courage is as that of +a lion, he does not desire to make further acquaintance with the +mysterious monsters. Besides, there is no knowing in what particular +spot the things were dropped; this also deterring them from any attempt +to enter upon a search. The stream at its crossing-place is quite a +hundred yards in width, and by this time the articles of metal, as the +heavily-weighted saddle-bags, will have settled down below the surface, +perhaps trampled into its slimy bed by the horse himself in his +convulsive struggles. To seek them now would be like looking for a +needle in a stack of straw. So the idea is abandoned; and for this +night they must resign themselves to going supperless. + +Fortunately, none of the three feels a-hungered; their dinner being as +yet undigested. Besides, Gaspar is not without hope that something may +turn up to reprovision them, ere the sun goes down. Just possible, the +soldier-cranes may come back to the ford, and their fishing, so that +another, with full crop, may fall within the loop of his _lazo_. + +Having kindled a fire--not for cooking purposes, but to dry their +ponchos, and other apparel saturated in the crossing of the stream--they +first spread everything out; hanging them on improvised clothes-horses, +constructed of _cana brava_--a brake of which skirts the adjacent +stream. Then, overcome with fatigue, and still suffering from the +effects of the animal electricity, they stretch themselves alongside the +fire, trusting to time for their recovery. + +Nor trust they in vain. For, sooner than expected, the volatile fluid-- +or whatever it may be--passes out of their veins, and their nervous +strength returns; even Ludwig saying he is himself again, though he is +not quite so yet. + +And their animals also undergo a like rapid recovery, from browsing on +the leaves and bean-pods of the _algarobias_; a provender relished by +all pampas horses, as horned cattle, and nourishing to both. More than +this, the fruit of this valuable tree when ripe, is fit food for man +himself, and so used in several of the Argentine States. + +This fact suggesting itself to Gaspar--as he lies watching the horses +plucking off the long siliques, and greedily devouring them--he says:-- + +"We can make a meal on the _algarobia_ beans, if nothing better's to be +had. And for me, it wouldn't be the first time by scores. In some +parts where I've travelled, they grind them like maize, and bake a very +fair sort of bread out of their meal." + +"Why, Gaspar!" exclaims Ludwig, recalling some facts of which he had +heard his father speak, "you talk as if you had travelled in the Holy +Land, and in New Testament times! These very trees, or others of a +similar genus, are the ones whose fruit was eaten by Saint John the +Baptist. You remember that passage, where it is said: `his meat was +locusts and wild honey.' Some think the locusts he ate were the insects +of that name; and it may be so, since they are also eaten by Arabs, and +certain other tribes of Asiatic and African people. But, for my part, I +believe the beans of the `locust tree' are meant; which, like this, is a +species of acacia that the Arabs call _carob_; evidently the root from +which we take our word _algarobia_." + +Gaspar listens, both patiently and pleased, to this learned +dissertation. For he is rejoiced to perceive, that the thoughts of his +young companion are beginning to find some abstraction and +forgetfulness, of that upon which they have been so long sadly dwelling. +Cypriano, too, appears to take an interest in the subject of discourse; +and to encourage it the gaucho rejoins, in gleeful tones: + +"Well, Senor Ludwig; I don't know much about those far-away countries +you speak of, for I've not had any great deal of schooling. But I do +know, that _algarobia_ beans are not such bad eating; that is if +properly prepared for it. In the States of Santiago and Tucuman, which +are the places I spoke of having travelled through, the people almost +live on them; rich and poor, man as well as beast. And we may be glad +to make breakfast on them, if not supper; though I still trust something +more dainty may drop upon us. I'm not so hopeful as to expect manna, +like that which rained down upon Moses; but there's many an eatable +thing to be had in this Chaco wilderness, too--for those who know how to +look for it. _Ay Dios_!" he adds, after a pause, with his eyes turned +towards the ford, "those long-legged gentry don't seem to care about +coming back there. No doubt, the screams of that fellow I throttled +have frightened them off for good. So I suppose we must give the birds +up, for this night anyhow. Just possible, in the morning they'll be as +hungry as ourselves, and pay their fishing-ground a very early visit." + +Saying this, the gaucho relapses into silence, the others also ceasing +to converse. They all feel a certain lethargy, which calls for repose; +and for a while all three lie without speaking a word, their heads +resting on their _recados_--the only sound heard being the "crump-crump" +of their horses' teeth grinding the _algarobia_ pods into pulp. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. + +A CHAT ABOUT ELECTRIC EELS. + +The silence of the camp is not of long continuance; Gaspar being the +first to break it. For the gaucho, having a stronger stomach, and +consequently a quicker digestion than the others, feels some incipient +sensations of hunger. + +"I only wish," he says, "we could get hold of one of the brutes that +battered us so in the stream. If we could, it would furnish us with a +supper fit for a king." + +"What!" exclaims Ludwig, raising his head in surprise, "one of the +electric eels? Is it that you're speaking of, Gaspar?" + +"Ay, _senorito_; just that." + +"Surely you wouldn't eat _it_, would you?" + +"Wouldn't I? If I had one here now, you'd soon see." + +"But are they really good to eat?" + +"Good to eat! I should think they are; and if you could but taste them +yourself, _senorito_, you'd say so. A lightning eel's about the +daintiest morsel I ever stuck teeth into; though they do have their +dwelling-place in mud, and as some say, feed upon it. Before cooking +them, however, something needs being done. You must cut away a portion +of their flesh; the spongy part, which it's said gives them power to +make their lightning play. In that lies the dangerous stuff, whatever +sort of thing it is." + +"But what are they like, Gaspar? I've never seen one." + +It is Ludwig who still interrogates; but to his last question Cypriano, +not Gaspar, gives the answer, saying: + +"Oh, cousin! Do you mean to say you've never seen an electric eel?" + +"Indeed do I. I've heard father speak of them often, and I know them by +their scientific name, _gymnotus_. I believe there are plenty of them +in the rivers of Paraguay; but, as it chances, I never came across one, +either dead or alive." + +"I have," says Cypriano, "come across more than one, and many times. +But once I well remember; for an awkward circumstance it was to myself." + +"How so, _sobrino_?" + +"Ah! that's a tale I never told you, Ludwig; but I'll tell it now, if +you wish." + +"Oh I do wish it." + +"Well, near the little village where, as you know, I was born, and went +to school before coming to live with uncle at Assuncion, there was a +pond full of these fish. We boys used to amuse ourselves with them; +sending in dogs and pigs, whenever we had the chance, to see the scare +they would get, and how they scampered out soon as they found what queer +company they'd got into. Cruel sport it was, I admit. But one day we +did what was even worse than frightening either dogs or pigs; we drove +an old cow in, with a long rope round her horns, the two ends of which +we fastened to trees on the opposite sides of the pond, so that she had +only a little bit of slack to dance about upon. And dance about she +did, as the eels electrified her on every side; till at last she dropped +down exhausted, and, I suppose, dead; since she went right under the +water, and didn't come up again. I shall never forget her pitiful, ay, +reproachful look, as she stood up to the neck, with her head craned out, +as if making an appeal to us to save her, while we only laughed the +louder. Poor thing! I can now better understand the torture she must +have endured." + +"But is that the awkward circumstance you've spoken of?" + +"Oh, no. _It_ was altogether another affair; and for me, as all the +others, a more serious one. I hadn't come to the end of the adventure-- +the unpleasant part of it--which was the chastisement we all got, by way +of reward for our wickedness." + +"Chastisement! Who gave it to you?" + +"Our worthy schoolmaster. It so chanced the old cow was his; the only +one he had at the time giving milk. And he gave us such a thrashing! +Ah! I may well say, I've a lively recollection of it; so lively, I +might truly think the punishment then received was enough, without the +additional retribution the eels have this day inflicted on me." + +Cypriano's narration ended, his cousin, after a pause, again appeals to +Gaspar to give him a description of the creatures forming the topic of +their conversation. To which the gaucho responds, saying:-- + +"Well, Senor Ludwig, if you want to know what a lightning eel is like, +take one of the common kind--which of course you've seen--a full-sized +one; make that about ten times as thick as it is, without adding much to +its length, and you'll have the thing, near as I can think it. So much +for the reptile's bulk; though there are some both bigger round, and +longer from head to tail. As for its colour, over the back it's a sort +of olive green--just like _yerba_ leaves when they've been let stand a +day or two after plucking. On the throat, and under the belly, it's +paler, with here and there some blotches of red. I may tell you, +however, that the lightning-eels change colour same as some of the +lizards; partly according to their age, but as much from the sort of +water they're found in--whether it be a clear running stream, or a muddy +stagnant pond, such as the one Senor Cypriano has spoken of. Besides, +there are several kinds of them, as we gauchos know; though, I believe, +the _naturalutas_ are not aware of the fact. The most dangerous sort, +and no doubt the same that's just attacked us, have broad heads, and +wide gaping mouths full of sharp teeth, with flat tails and a pair of +fins close to the nape of the neck. _Carramba_! they're ugly devils to +look at, and still uglier to have dealings with; that is, when one's in +the water alongside them--as we ourselves know. Still they don't always +behave so bad, as these did to-day. When I crossed this stream before, +with the _dueno_, neither he nor I felt the slightest shock to tell of +eels being in it. I suppose it's the _tormenta_ that's set them a +stirring. Like enough, there's some connection between their lightning +and that of the sky. If so, that's what has quickened the brutes, and +made them so mad. Well," he adds, as if drawing his account to a +conclusion, "mad as they are, I'd like to have one frizzling over this +fire." + +"But who eats them, Gaspar?" interrogates Ludwig, still incredulous on +the question of their being a fit article of diet. "I've never heard of +their being eaten, nor brought to market like other fish." + +"Hundreds, thousands of people eat them, _hijo mio_. They're in great +request in some places; ay, all over the country. Both whites and +Indians relish them; but more especially the redskins. Some tribes +prefer them to any other food, be it fish, flesh, or fowl; and make a +regular business of catching them." + +"Ah! how are they caught?" + +"There are various ways; but the usual one is by spearing them. +Sometimes the slippery fellows glide out of their mud beds and come to +the surface of the water, as it were to amuse themselves by having a +look round. Then the fisherman gets a chance at them, without any +searching, or trouble. He is armed with a long pole of _cana brava_, +one end having an iron point barbed like a spear. This, he launches at +them, just as I've heard say whalers do their harpoons. For, if he kept +the shaft in his hands, he'd catch it from their lightning, and get +strokes that would stagger him. Still, he doesn't let go altogether; as +there's a cord attached to the spear, and with that he can haul in the +fish, if he has struck it. But he must have a care to keep his cord out +of the water; if it gets wetted he'll have a fit of the trembles upon +him, sure. For it's a fact--and a curious one you'll say, _senoritos_-- +that a dry cord won't conduct the eel's lightning, while a wet one +will." + +"It _is_ a fact," says Ludwig, endorsing the statement. "I've heard +father speak of it." + +"Very singular," observes Cypriano. + +"And I can tell you of another fact," pursues the gaucho, "that you'll +say is still more singular. Would you believe, that from one of these +fish a man may strike sparks, just as by a flint and steel--ay, and +kindle a fire with them? I know it's an old story, about fish having +what's called phosphorus in them; but it isn't everybody who knows that +real fire can be got out of the lightning-eels." + +"But can that be done, Gaspar?" asks Ludwig. + +"Certainly it can. I've seen it done. And he who did it was your own +dear father, Senor Ludwig. It was one day when we were out on a ramble, +and caught one of the eels in a pool, where it had got penned up by the +water having dried around it. The _dueno_ took out a piece of wire, and +with one end tickled the eel; the other end being stuck into some +gunpowder, which was wrapped loosely in a piece of paper. The powder +flashed and set the paper ablaze, as also some leaves and dry sticks +we'd laid around it. Soon we had a fire; and on that same fire we +broiled the eel itself, and ate it. _Por dios_! I only wish we had one +broiling over this fire. I'd want no better thing for supper." + +So ended the chat about electric eels, the subject seeming exhausted. +Then the conversation changing to other and less interesting topics, was +soon after brought to a close. For the darkness was now down, and as +their ponchos, and other softer goods had become thoroughly dry, there +was no reason why they should not go to rest for the night. But since +the soldier-cranes had declined coming back--by this time no doubt +roosted in some far-off "cranery"--and no other source of food supply +offering, they must needs go to bed supperless, as they did. Their +appetites were not yet sufficiently sharp, to have an inordinate craving +for meat. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. + +NOTHING FOR BREAKFAST. + +Under the shadow of the _algarobias_ the trackers sleep undisturbed. +Ludwig, however, has troubled dreams, in which gymnoti play a +conspicuous part. He imagines himself still floundering amidst these +monsters, assailed from all sides by their galvanic batteries, and that +they have dragged him down into the mud, where he is fast getting +asphyxiated. When in his last gasp, as it were, he is relieved, by +awaking from his uneasy slumbers; which he does suddenly, and with a +terrified cry. + +Finding it has been all a dream, and glad to think it so, he says +nothing; and the others not having heard his half-stifled cry, soon +again falls asleep. This time his slumber is lighter, as also more +profound; and, on the whole, he has a tolerable night's rest; in the +morning feeling fairly refreshed, as likewise do Cypriano and Gaspar. + +All three are astir a good half-hour before there is any sign of day; +and their camp-fire is rekindled. This not for culinary purposes--since +they have nothing to be cooked--but rather because the air is chilly +cold, as it often is in the tropics, and they need to warm themselves +before setting about aught else. + +When warmed, however, they begin to think of breakfast, as also to talk +about it. What is it to be, or of what consist, are the questions which +interest them without being easily answered. There are the _algarobia_ +beans; but their skillet has been lost along with the kettle, and there +is left them no utensil in which these legumes might be boiled. True, +they can roast them in the ashes; but Gaspar still clings to the hope +that something more toothful may turn up. As the early dawn is the best +time to find wild animals abroad, both birds and quadrupeds--the best +also for approaching them--the gaucho feels pretty confident either one +or other will stray within reach of their guns, bolas, or lazos. + +In the end it proves that his confidence has not been misplaced. Just +as the first red rays of the Aurora are reflected from the tops of the +trees around their camp, more faintly lighting up the lower level of the +pampa beyond, Gaspar, peering through a break between the branches of +the _algarobias_, sees a brace of large birds moving about over the +plain. Not soldier-cranes, though creatures with necks and legs quite +as long; for they are _rheas_. + +"_Gracios a Dios_!" is the gaucho's gratified exclamation at sight of +them; continuing in low tone and speaking over his shoulder, "A couple +of _avestruz_!" + +The others, gliding up to him, and looking through the leaves, also +behold the birds, seeing them from head to foot. For they are out upon +the open ground, striding to and fro, now and then pausing to pick up +some morsel of food, or it may be but a pebble to aid in the digestion +of what they have already eaten. While thus engaged, they are gradually +drawing nearer to the bank of the _riacho_, as also the edge of the +_algarobia_ grove in which the trackers are encamped. Their proximity +to the latter most interests those in the camp, and all three instantly +lay hold of their guns, which luckily have been reloaded, two of them +with ball. Gaspar, foremost of the trio, has got his barrel through the +branches, and, seeing that the _rheas_ are now within bullet-range, is +about to blaze away at the one nearest, which chances to be the cock +bird, when the latter, suddenly elevating its head, and uttering a loud +hiss succeeded by a snort, as from a badly-blown trumpet, turns tail and +makes off over the plain; its mate turning simultaneously, and legging +it alongside. All this to the surprise of the gaucho; who knows that he +has not exposed his person and sees that neither have the others, nor +yet made any noise to account for the behaviour of the birds. + +"What can have frightened them?" is the question he would ask, when +casting his eyes upward he perceives what has done it--their smoke of +their camp-fire! The blue stream ascending over the tops of the trees, +as if out of a chimney, had just then, for the first time, been caught +sight of by the ostriches, sending them off in quick scare. Nor strange +it should, being a spectacle to which the wild denizens of the Chaco are +not accustomed, or only familiar with as denoting an enemy near--their +greatest enemy, man. + +"_Maldita sea_!" exclaims the gaucho, as the birds show their backs to +him, an exclamation morally the reverse of that he uttered on seeing +them with heads turned the opposite way. "That confounded fire! what a +pity we kindled it! the thing's done us out of our breakfast. Stay! +no." + +The negative ejaculation comes from his perceiving that the ostriches, +instead of rushing onwards in long rapid strides, as they had started, +are gradually shortening step and slackening the pace. And while he +continues looking after them, they again come to a stop, and stand +gazing back at the dark blue pillar of smoke rising spirally against the +lighter blue background of sky. But now they appear to regard it less +with alarm than curiosity; and even this after a time wearing off, they +once more lower their beaks, and return to browsing, just as a couple of +common geese, or rather a goose and gander. For all, they do not yet +seem quite tranquillised, every now and then their heads going up with a +suddenness, which tells that their former feeling of security is not +restored; instead, replaced by uneasy suspicions that things are not as +they ought to be. + +"Our guns will be of no use now," says Gaspar, laying his own aside. "I +know the nature of _avestruz_ well enough to say for certain, that, +after the scare they've had they'll stay shy for several hours, and +'twill be impossible to approach them; that is, near enough for the +longest-range gun we've got. And to run them down with our horses would +be to lose a day's journey at least. We can't afford that, for the sake +of a bit of breakfast. No, 'twould never do. We'll have to go without, +or else, after all, break our fast upon these beans." + +Saying which, he glances up to the _algarobias_, from which the long +siliques droop down in profusion, more plentiful than tempting to him. + +"_Caspita_!" he resumes, after a pause, once more bending his eyes +covetously upon the birds, and as if an idea had suddenly occurred to +him, "I think I know of a way by which we may circumvent these two tall +stalkers." + +"How?" eagerly asks Cypriano. + +"By going at them--_garzoneando_." + +"_Garzoneando_!" exclaims Ludwig in echo. "Good Gaspar, whatever do you +mean by that?" + +"You'll see, young master, soon as I've made things ready for it. And +your cousin here, he's the fittest for the part to be played. I'd +undertake it myself, but I'm a bit too bulky to counterfeit a creature +of such slender proportions as the _garzon soldado_; while Senor +Cypriano's figure will just suit to a nicety." + +Neither of the two youths has the slightest idea of what the gaucho +designs doing; but, accustomed to his quaint, queer ways, and knowing +that whatever he intends is pretty sure to be something of service to +them--as likely to have a successful issue--they await his action with +patience and in silence. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. + +A COUNTERFEIT CRANE. + +Gaspar allows no time to be lost, but instantly commences taking +measures for the _garzoneando_--whatever that may be. As yet neither of +his young companions has been told what it is, though they soon begin to +have a guess. + +While they stand watching, they see him once more plunge his hand into +those capacious saddle-bags, where for a time it rummages about. When +drawn out again, it is seen to grasp a folded bundle of soft goods, +which, on being shaken open, shows to be a shirt. No common cotton +thing, however, but an affair of the finest linen, snow-white, with an +embroidered bosom and ruffles; in short, his gala shirt, such as are +worn by gauchos when they appear at _fiestas_ and _fandangoes_. + +"A pity to use my best _camisa_ for such a purpose," he observes, while +in the act of unfolding it. "Still it won't likely get much damage; and +a wash, with a bit of starch, will set it all right again." + +Then turning to Cypriano, he adds, "Now, senorito; be good enough to +strip off everything, and draw this over your shoulders." + +Without a word of protest, or objection, the young Paraguayan does as +requested, and is soon inside the holiday shirt; his own having been +laid aside, as also his _jaqueta, calzoneras_, and every other article +of dress worn by him. + +Meanwhile, Gaspar has been engaged getting ready several other things +for the change of costume intended; one of these being a silk +handkerchief of a bright scarlet colour, also taken out of the +inexhaustible _alparejas_. This he ties about Cypriano's neck, not as +an ordinary cravat, but loosely folded, so as to expose a breadth of +several inches all round. + +The gaucho's next move is to snatch from off the fire one of the faggots +still only half consumed; from which with his knife he scrapes the red +coal, leaving the surface black, at the same time paring the stick to a +sharp point. With some wet gunpowder he further blackens it; then +placing the thick end against Cypriano's forehead, he binds it fast with +a piece of raw-hide thong, the last carried around and firmly knotted at +the back of the neck. + +A few more touches and the toilet is complete; transforming Cypriano +into what, at a distance, might be supposed a soldier-crane! At all +events, the ostriches will so suppose him, as Gaspar knows; for he is +but copying a scheme often practised by South American Indians for the +capture of these shy birds. + +"_Muy bien_!" he exclaims, as he stands contemplating his finished task. +"By my word, _muchacho mio_, you look the character to perfection. And +if you act it cleverly, as I know you can and will, we'll make breakfast +on something better than beans. Now, senorito; you're in costume to go +_garzoneando_." + +Long ere this, Cypriano has come to comprehend what is required of him, +and is quite eager to have a try at the ruse so cunningly contrived. +Declaring himself ready to start out, it but remains to be decided what +weapon he ought to take with him. For they have the three kinds--gun, +_bolas_, and _lazo_; and in the use of the two last he is almost as +skilled as the gaucho himself. + +"The gun might be the readiest and surest," remarks Gaspar; "and it will +be as well to have one with you, in case of your not getting a good +chance to cast either of the others. But just now the less noise that's +made the better. Who knows, but that some of these traitorous redskins +may be still straggling about? Hearing shots they'd be sure to come up +to us; which we don't want, though ever so much wishing to come up with +them. Therefore, I say, use either the balls or the rope." + +"All the same to me," observes the young Paraguayan. "Which do you +think the better?" + +"The _bolas_, decidedly. I've known the _lazo_ slip over an ostrich's +head, after the noose had been round its neck. But once the cord of the +_bolas_ gets a turn round the creature's shanks, it'll go to grass +without making another stride. Take this set of mine. As you see, +they're best _boliadores_, and you can throw them with surer aim." + +The weapon which the gaucho hands to him differs from the ordinary +_bolas_, in having a longer stretch of cord between the balls; but +Cypriano is himself as well acquainted with this kind as with the other, +and can cast them as skilfully. Taking hold of the weapon, along with +his double-barrelled gun, and concealing both as he best can under the +gaucho's shirt, he starts off upon the stalk; for he now knows what he +has to do, without any further instruction from Gaspar. It is simply a +question of getting near enough to one of the birds to make capture of +it with the _boliadores_; or, failing this, bring it down with a +bullet--one barrel of his gun being loaded with ball. + +As he goes off, Caspar and Ludwig looking after him can see that his +chances of success are good. For by this the _rheas_ have pretty well +recovered from their scare, and are again tranquilly striding about. +Moreover, they have moved somewhat nearer to the bank of the _riacho_, +where a bordering of leafy evergreens offers to the stalker cover of the +best kind. Taking advantage of it, he, in the guise of a _garzon_, +steps briskly on, and steals in among the bushes. There he is for a +time unseen, either by those watching him from the summit of the knoll, +or the creatures being stalked. The latter have already noticed the +counterfeit, but without showing any signs of fear; no doubt supposing +it to be what it pretends--a bird as themselves, with neck and legs as +long as their own. But no enemy; for often have they passed over that +same plain, and fed in a friendly way alongside soldier-cranes--scores +of them. Even when this solitary specimen again appears by the skirting +of the scrub within less than twenty paces of them, they do not seem at +all alarmed, though possibly a little surprised at its being there all +alone. + +Nor do they make any attempt to stir from the spot, till a movement on +the part of the _garzon_, with some gestures that seem odd to them, +excite their suspicions afresh; then raising their heads, and craning +out their long necks, they regard it with wondering glances. Only for +an instant; when seeming at last to apprehend danger, the birds utter a +hiss, as if about to beat a retreat. + +For one of them it is too late, the cock, which chances to be nearest +the bushes, and who before he can lift a leg feels both embraced by +something which lashes them tightly together; while at the same time +something else hits him a hard heavy blow, bowling him over upon the +grass, where he lies stunned and senseless. + +"_Bueno! Bravo_!" simultaneously shout Gaspar and Ludwig, the two +together rushing down from the hillock, and on for the prostrate _rhea_; +while the counterfeit crane comes forth from the bushes to meet them, as +he draws near, saying:-- + +"I could have shot the hen, but for what you said, Gaspar, about making +a noise." + +"No matter for the hen," rejoins the gaucho. "We don't want her just +now. This beauty will not only give us enough meat for breakfast, but +provide dinners and suppers for at least a couple of days to come." + +So saying, he draws his knife across the _rhea's_ throat, to make sure +before releasing its legs from the thong. After which the _boliadores_ +are detached; and the huge carcase, almost as heavy as that of a fatted +calf, is carried in triumph to the camp. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. + +THE AVESTRUZ. + +Soon after the trio of trackers have re-entered the _algarobia_ grove, a +frizzling, sputtering noise is heard therein; while an appetising odour +spreads all around, borne afar on the balmy breeze of the morning. Both +the sound and the smell proceed from some choice tit-bits which Gaspar +has taken from the body of the great bird--chiefly slices from the thigh +bone and breast. + +By the time Cypriano has doffed the masquerading dress, and resumed his +proper travelling costume, the cooking is done, and breakfast declared +ready. + +While eating it, by way of accompaniment they naturally converse about +the bird. Not the particular one which exclusively forms their repast, +but of ostriches in general, and more especially those of South America +commonly called _rheas_; though to the gauchos better known by the name +_avestruz_. + +Both the boys are pretty well acquainted with these birds and their +habits; Cypriano having several times taken part in their chase; while +Ludwig best knows them in a scientific sense. Still there are many of +their ways, and strange ones, of which neither one nor the other has +ever heard, but that Gaspar has been witness to with his own eyes. It +is the gaucho, therefore, who imparts most of the information, the +others being little more than listeners. + +"Though the thing isn't generally known," he says, "there are several +distinct kinds of _avestruz_ in different parts of the country. Of +myself I've seen three. First, a very small sort, not much bigger than +a turkey cock. It's darker coloured than the kind we're eating, with +shorter legs and feathered further down. It don't lay so many eggs +either; but, strange to say, they are almost as big as those of the +other sort, only differently shaped, and with a tinge of blue on the +shell. It I saw when I once went on an expedition with the Buenos Ayres +army down south to the plains of Patagonia. There the climate is much +colder than up here, and the _avestruz petise_, as the bird's called, +seems to like that best; since it's never seen on the warm pampas +farther north. On the other hand, the sort we have here, which is the +biggest of all, never strays down to these very cold districts, but goes +all over the _Chaco_ country, where it's hottest. The third kind I've +seen is in bulk about midways between the two; but it's a very rare +bird, and I believe not known to the learned _naturalistas_. Isn't that +so, Senor Ludwig?" + +"Indeed, yes. I never heard of a third species, though father has told +me of the _avestruz petise_; which, as you say, is only found far south, +ranging from the Rio Negro to the Straits of Magellan." + +"Well," continues Gaspar, resuming his account, "I'm sure of there being +there sorts; though I don't know much about the other two, only this +we've met here. Of them I ought to know a good deal, having hunted them +as often as there are days in the year. One thing there's been no end +of disputation about; and that is whether several hens lay their eggs in +the same nest. Now, I can say for certain they do. I've seen several +go to the same nest, one after the other, and on the same day too. What +should take them there if not to lay their eggs? True, they drop them +about everywhere, in a very loose, careless way; as can be told by their +being seen scattered all over the _campo_, and far from any nest. What +this is for I cannot myself tell; though I've heard some gauchos say +that these stray eggs--_huachos_ we call them--are laid here and there +for the young birds to feed upon. But that can't be so, since the +_huachos_ are never found pecked or broken, but always whole, whether +they be fresh or addled. I think it's more likely that the hens drop +these stray eggs because they have no nest in which to put them; that +where they have laid their others being already full. Besides, there is +the cock sitting upon it; who won't let any of them come near, once he +has taken to hatching?" + +"Is it true, then, that the cock does the hatching?" interrogates +Ludwig. + +"Quite true--all of it; and he's got a good many eggs to cover. I've +counted over fifty in one nest. That of itself shows no single hen +could have laid them; for, as it would take her a long time, the first +ones would be rotten before the last came. As for the cock when +sitting, he's as cross as an old duck doing the same, but _ten_ times +more dangerous to go near. I've known of a gaucho getting a kick from +one he'd started from off the nest, almost as hard as if it had been +given by a mule. And to hear them hiss then! Ah! that was nothing +we've just heard from this fellow." + +"Is it true they can swim, Gaspar?" again questions Ludwig. + +"Like swans. No, I'm wrong there, for nothing can be more unlike. So +far as the swimming goes, the _avestruz_ can do it, but in quite a +different way from swans. They swim with their bodies under water, and +only their shoulders, with the head and neck, above. It's a funny sight +to see a flock of them crossing one of the big rivers; and scores of +times I've been eye-witness to that bit of comicality. _Carramba_! a +curious bird, the _avestruz_ is altogether, and a useful one, as we've +now good reason to know. So, _senoritos_, let us be thankful to +Providence that there's such a plenty of them on these _pampas_, and +above all, for guiding the steps of this fine specimen, as to place it +so directly and opportunely in our way." + +The discourse about ostriches is brought to a close with the breakfast +upon that which had led to it; both, along with the incident of the +bird's capture, having occupied little more time than is here taken in +telling of them. So little, indeed, that the sun's disc is not yet all +above the horizon, when, having completed the repast, the trackers start +up from their seats around the fire, and proceed to caparisoning their +animals. + +Nor do they spend many moments at this. Ever mindful of what has +brought them thither--no mere excursion for pleasure's sake, but an +expedition forced upon them through sad, painful necessity--they waste +not a second that can be saved. Quickly, therefore, their horses are +got under saddle, and bridled, with every article of their _impedimenta_ +fixed and fastened in its respective place, besides, something on the +croup of Ludwig _recado_, which was not hitherto there. Where the lost +traps had been carried, are now seen the two thigh-bones of the cock +ostrich, with most of the flesh still adhering, each as large as a leg +of mutton. There is a heart, liver, and gizzard also stowed away in a +wrap of a _vihao_, or wild plantain leaves, which, tied in a secure +packet, dangles alongside; the whole, as Gaspar declared, enough to keep +them provisioned for at least a couple of days. + +But although everything seems in readiness, they are not yet prepared to +take a final departure from the place. A matter remains to be +determined, and one of the utmost importance--being no less than the +direction in which they should go. They have thought of it the night +before, but not till darkness had come down upon them. Still +unrecovered from the excitement consequent on the attack of the +_gymnoti_, and afterwards occupied in drying their wet garments, with +other cares of the occasion, even Gaspar had failed during daylight to +examine the nether side of the ford at its outcoming, where he supposed +he might hit upon the trail they were in search of. It was not because +he had forgotten it, but that, knowing they would stay there all night, +he also knew the tracks, if any, would keep till the morning. + +Morning having arrived, from earliest daybreak and before, as is known, +they have been otherwise occupied; and only now, at the moment of moving +off, do they find time to look for that which must decide their future +course and the route they are to take. + +With a parting glance at the place of bivouac, and each leading his own +horse, they move out of the _algarobia_ grove, and on down to the edge +of the _riacho_, stopping at the spot where they came across. + +But not a moment spend they there, in the search for hoof-marks other +than those of their own horses. They see others soon as arrived at the +stream's edge; scores of them, and made by the same animals they have +been all along tracking. Not much in this it might appear; since +unfortunately, these hoof-marks can be distinguished no farther than to +the summit of the sloping bank. Beyond they are covered up, as +elsewhere, by the mud. But Gaspar's keen eye is not to be thus baffled; +and a joyful ejaculation escaping his lips tells he has discovered +something which gives him gladness. On Cypriano asking what it is, he +makes answer-- + +"Just what we're wanting to find out; the route the redskins have taken +after parting from this place. Thanks to the Virgin, I know the way +they went now, as well as if I'd been along with them." + +"How do you know that?" questions Cypriano, who with Ludwig has been +examining the Indian trail down by the water's edge--apart from the +gaucho, who had followed it up to the summit of the slope. + +"Come hither!" he calls out. "Look there!" he adds as they get beside +him, "You see that these tracks have the toes all turned down stream; +which tells me the horses did the same, and, I should say, also their +riders. Yes! Soon as out of the water they turned down; proof good as +positive that they've gone along the _riacho_ this side, and back again +to the big river. So it's no use our delaying longer here; there's +nothing farther to be learnt, or gained by it." + +So says Gaspar; but Cypriano, and also Ludwig, think otherwise. Both +have a wish--indeed, an earnest desire--once more to look upon the +tracks of the pony on which they know Francesca to have been mounted. +And communicating this to the gaucho, he holds their horses while they +return to search for them. + +To their satisfaction they again beheld the diminutive hoof-marks; two +or three of which have escaped being trampled out by the horses that +came behind. And after regarding them for a time with sad glances, +Ludwig turns away sighing, while his cousin gives utterance to what more +resembles a curse, accompanied by words breathing vengeance against the +abductors. + +Rejoining the gaucho, all three mount into their saddles; and, without +further dallying, ride off down the _riacho_, to make back for the main +river. + +But, again upon the latter's bank, they find the trail blind as before, +with nothing to guide them, save the stream itself. To the gaucho, +however, this seems sufficient, and turning his horses's head upward, he +cries out-- + +"Now, _muchachos mios_! we must on to the _salitral_!" + +And on for this they ride; to reach the point where it commences, just +as the sun's lower limb touches, seeming to rest on the level line of +the horizon. + +And now, having arrived on the edge of the _salitral_, they make halt, +still keeping to their saddles, with eyes bent over the waste which +stretches far beyond and before them. Greater than ever is the gloom in +their looks as they behold the sterile tract, which should have shown +snow-white, all black and forbidding. For the _salitral_, as all the +rest of the campo, is covered with a stratum of mud, and the _travesia_ +across it has been altogether obliterated. + +Gaspar only knows the place where it begins; this by the bank of the +river which there also commences its curve, turning abruptly off to the +south. He thinks the route across the _salitral_ is due westward, but +he is not sure. And there is no sign of road now, not a trace to +indicate the direction. Looking west, with the sun's disc right before +their faces, they see nothing but the brown bald expanse, treeless as +cheerless, with neither break nor bush, stick nor stone, to relieve the +monotony of its surface, or serve as a land-mark for the traveller. And +the same thing both to the right and left, far as their eyes can reach; +for here the river, after turning off, has no longer a skirting of +trees; its banks beyond being a low-lying saline marsh--in short, a part +of the _salitral_. To ride out upon that wilderness waste, to all +appearance endless, with any chance or hope of finding the way across +it, would be like embarking in an open boat, and steering straight for +the open ocean. + +Not on that night, anyhow, do they intend making the attempt, as the +darkness will soon be down upon them. So dismounting from their horses, +they set about establishing a camp. + +But when established they take little delight in its occupation. Now +more than ever are they doubtful and dejected; thinking of that terrible +_travesia_, of which all traces are lost, and none may be found beyond. +To Cypriano no night since their starting out seemed so long as this. + +Little dream they, while seated around their camp-fire, or lying +sleepless alongside it, that the tract of country they so much dread +entering upon, will, in a few hours' time, prove their best friend. +Instead of sending them further astray it will put them once more on the +lost trail, with no longer a likelihood of their again losing it. + +Unaware of this good fortune before them, they seek rest with feelings +of the utmost despondency, and find sleep only in short snatches. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY. + +ON THE SALITRAL. + +Next morning the trackers are up at an early hour--the earlier because +of their increased anxiety--and after break fasting on broiled ostrich +leg, make ready to recommence their journey. + +_Nolens volens_, they must embark upon that brown, limitless expanse, +which looks unattractive in the light of the rising sun as it did under +that of the setting. + +In their saddles, and gazing over it before setting out, Gaspar says-- + +"_Hijos mios_; we can't do better than head due westward. That will +bring us out of the _salitral_, somewhere. Luckily there's a sun in the +sky to hold us to a straight course. If we hadn't that for a guide, we +might go zig-zagging all about, and be obliged to spend a night amidst +the saltpetre; perhaps three or four of them. To do so would be to risk +our lives; possibly lose them. The thirst of itself would kill us, for +there's never drinkable water in a _salitral_. However, with the sun +behind our backs, and we'll take care to keep it so, there won't be much +danger of our getting bewildered. We must make haste, though. Once it +mounts above our heads, I defy Old Nick himself to tell east from west. +So let's put on the best speed we can take out of the legs of our +animals." + +With this admonition, and a word to his horse, the gaucho goes off at a +gallop; the others starting simultaneously at the same pace, and all +three riding side by side. For on the smooth, open surface of the +_salitral_ there is no need for travelling single file. Over it a +thousand horsemen--or ten thousand for that matter--might march abreast, +with wide spaces between. + +Proceeding onward, they leave behind them three distinct traces of a +somewhat rare and original kind--the reverse of what would be made by +travellers passing over ground thinly covered with snow, where the trail +would be darker than the surrounding surface. Theirs, on the contrary, +is lighter coloured--in point of fact, quite white, from the saltpetre +tossed to the top by the hooves of their galloping horses. + +The gaucho every now and then casts a glance over his shoulder, to +assure himself of the sun's disc being true behind their backs; and in +this manner they press on, still keeping up the pace at which they had +started. + +They have made something more than ten miles from the point where they +entered upon the _salitral_; and Gaspar begins to look inquiringly +ahead, in the hope of sighting a tree, ridge, rock, or other land-mark +to tell where the _travesia_ terminates. His attention thus occupied, +he for awhile forgets what has hitherto been engaging it--the position +of the sun. + +And when next he turns to observe the great luminary, it is only to see +that it is no longer there--at least no longer visible. A mass of dark +cloud has drifted across its disc, completely obscuring it. In fact, it +was the sudden darkening of the sky, and, as a consequence, the shadow +coming over the plain before his face, which prompted him to turn +round--recalling the necessity of caution as to their course. + +"_Santos Dios_!" he cries out, his own brow becoming shadowed as the +sky; "our luck has left us, and--" + +"And what?" asks Cypriano, seeing that the gaucho hesitates, as if +reluctant to say why fortune has so suddenly forsaken them. "There's a +cloud come over the sun; has that anything to do with it?" + +"Everything, senorito. If that cloud don't pass off again, we're as +good as lost. And," he adds, with eyes still turned to the east, his +glance showing him to feel the gravest apprehension, "I am pretty sure +it won't pass off--for the rest of this day at all events. _Mira_! +It's moving along the horizon--still rising up and spreading out!" + +The others also perceive this, they too, having halted, and faced to +eastward. + +"_Santissima_!" continues the gaucho in the same serious tone, "_we're +lost as it is now_!" + +"But how lost?" inquires Ludwig, who, with his more limited experience +of pampas life, is puzzled to understand what the gaucho means. "In +what way?" + +"Just because there's _no may_. That's the very thing we've lost, +senorito. Look around! Now, can you tell east from west, or north from +south? No, not a single point of the compass. If we only knew one, +that would be enough. But we don't, and, therefore, as I've said, we're +lost--dead, downright lost; and, for anything beyond this, we'll have to +go a groping. At a crawl, too, like three blind cats." + +"Nothing of the sort!" breaks in Cypriano, who, a little apart from the +other two, has been for the last few seconds to all appearance holding +communion with himself. "Nothing of the sort," he repeats riding +towards them with a cheerful expression. "We'll neither need to go +groping, Gaspar, nor yet at a crawl. Possibly, we may have to slacken +the pace a bit; but that's all." + +Both Ludwig and the gaucho, but especially the latter, sit regarding him +with puzzled looks. For what can he mean? Certainly something which +promises to release them from their dilemma, as can be told by his +smiling countenance and confident bearing. In fine, he is asked to +explain himself, and answering, says:-- + +"Look back along our trail. Don't you see that it runs straight?" + +"We do," replies Gaspar, speaking for both. "In a dead right line, +thank the sun for that; and I only wish we could have had it to direct +us a little longer, instead of leaving us in the lurch as it has done. +But go on, senorito! I oughtn't to have interrupted you." + +"Well," proceeds the young Paraguayan, "there's no reason why we +shouldn't still travel in that same right line--since we can." + +"Ha!" ejaculates the gaucho, who has now caught the other's meaning, "I +see the whole thing. Bravo, Senor Cypriano! You've beaten me in the +craft of the pampas. But I'm not jealous--no. Only proud to think my +own pupil has shown himself worthy of his teacher. _Gracias a Dios_!" + +During all this dialogue, Ludwig is silent, seated in his saddle, a very +picture of astonishment, alike wondering at what his cousin can mean, +and the burst of joyous enthusiasm it has elicited from the gaucho's +lips. His wonder is brought to an end, however, by Cypriano turning +round to him, and giving the explanation in detail. + +"Don't you see, _sobrino mio_, that one of us can stay by the end of the +trail we've already made, or two for that matter, while the third rides +forward. The others can call after to keep him in a straight line and +to the course. The three of us following one another, and the last +giving the directions from our trail behind, we can't possibly go +astray. Thanks to that white stuff, our back-tracks can be seen without +difficulty, and to a sufficient distance for our purpose." + +Long before Cypriano has reached the end of his explanatory discourse, +Ludwig, of quick wit too, catches his meaning, and with an enthusiasm +equalling that of the gaucho, cries out:-- + +"_Viva, sobrino mio_! You're a genius!" + +Not a moment more is lost or spent upon that spot; Ludwig being the one +chosen to lead off, the gaucho following, with a long space between +them, while the rear is brought up by Cypriano himself; who for this go, +and not Gaspar, acts as guide and director. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY ONE. + +TRAVELLING TANDEM. + +An odd spectacle the trio of trackers would afford to anyone seeing them +on the _salitral_ now, without knowing what they are at; one riding +directly in the wake and on the track of the other, with over a hundred +yards between each pair. And, as all are going at full gallop, it might +be supposed that the foremost is fleeing from the other two--one of the +pursuers having a blown horse and fallen hopelessly behind! + +Nor do they proceed in silence. Instead, the hindmost is heard to utter +loud shouts which the one midway repeats, as if in echo; while he ahead +alone says nothing. Even this would strengthen the supposition of its +being a chase; the pursued party speechless from the intensity of his +fears, and the effort he is making to escape his pursuers. + +One near enough, however, to note the expression upon the faces of all +three, and hear the words spoken, would know that the three galloping +horsemen, though oddly apart, are in friendly communication with one +another. Since in their shouts, though loud, is nothing to tell of +hostility or anger. Nor yet any great variety of speech--only the two +words, "right" and "left;" these uttered at short but irregular +intervals, first by the hindmost, then taken up by the one riding +midway, and passed on to him who leads; the last, as he hears them, +shaping his course in accordance. + +In this quaint fashion they have proceeded several leagues, when the +leader, Ludwig, is seen to swerve suddenly to the left, without any +direction having reached him from behind; this, too, at an angle of full +fifty degrees. + +"Right!" calls Cypriano from the rear, the tone of his voice telling of +surprise, while the same is visible on his face. + +Gaspar repeats the word in like accent of astonishment. Cypriano once +more vociferating, "Right! to the right!" + +But, although Ludwig must have heard them both, to neither gives he ear, +nor pays the slightest attention to the directions called out to him. +Instead, he still holds on in the new course, which he seems to have +chosen for himself. + +Has his horse shied, and escaped from his control? That is the first +thought of the other two, who by this time have both reined up, and sit +looking after him. Then a more painful apprehension forces itself upon +them; he may have gone astray in another sense, than from the track he +should have taken. Is he still under the influence of the animal +electricity, which might account for his seemingly eccentric behaviour? +For eccentric it certainly appears, if not something worse--as indeed +they half-suspect it to be. + +While they continue watching him, they see, as well as hear, what goes +far towards confirming their suspicions. For after galloping some two +or three hundred yards, and without once looking back, he suddenly pulls +up, raises the hat from his head, and holding it aloft, waves it round +and round, all the while uttering cries as of one in a frenzy! + +"_Pobrecito_!" mutters Gaspar to himself, "the excitement has been too +much for him. So long on the strain--no wonder. _Ay de mi_? Another +of that poor family doomed--and to worse than death!" + +At the same time Cypriano is reflecting in a somewhat similar fashion, +though he makes no remark. The strange exhibition saddens him beyond +the power of speech. His cousin has gone crazed! + +They had headed their horses, and were about to ride rapidly after, when +they saw him stop; and now moving gently forward with their eyes on him, +they see him replace the cap upon his head, and bend downward, with gaze +given to the ground. Some new fancy dictated by a disordered brain, +think they. What will he do next? What will they see? + +And what _do_ they see on drawing nearer to him? That which makes both +of them feel foolish enough; at the same time that it rejoices them to +think they have been the victims of a self-deception. For before they +are quite up to the spot where he has halted, they perceive a large +space of whitish colour, where the surface mud has been tossed and mixed +up with the substratum of saltpetre--all done by the hoofs of horses, as +even at a distance they can tell. + +"Come along here, you laggards!" cries Ludwig in a tone of triumph; +"I've something to show you. Feast your eyes upon this!" + +While speaking he nods to the ground by his horse's head, indicating the +disturbed tract; then, adding as he raises his hand, and points +outward-- + +"And on that!" + +The "that" he refers to is a white list leading away westward as far as +they can see--evidently the trail taken by those they are in pursuit of. + +Long ere this, both Gaspar and Cypriano have full comprehension of what +perplexed while alarming them. But neither says a word of the +suspicions they had entertained concerning him. Each in his own mind +has resolved never to speak of them, the gaucho, as he comes up again, +crying out-- + +"Bravo!" then adding with an air of gracious humility, "So, Senor +Ludwig, you, too, have beaten me! Beaten us all! You've set us on the +right trail now; one which, if I mistake not, will conduct us to the end +of our journey, without need of sunshine, or any other contrivance." + +"And that end," interposes Cypriano, "will be in a town or camp of Tovas +Indians, at the tent of the scoundrel Aguara;" then, adding excitedly, +"Oh! that I were there now!" + +"Have patience, _hijo mio_," counsels Gaspar; "you'll be there in good +time, and that very soon. For, from something I remember, I don't think +we've much more journey to make. But before proceeding further, let us +take a look at this curious thing here, and see what we can make of it. +Besides, our animals need breathing a bit." + +So saying, he dismounts, as do the others; and leaving their horses to +stand at rest, all three commence examination of the tract which shows +stirred and trampled. + +They see hoof-marks of horses--scores of them--all over the ground for +the space of several perches, and pointed in every direction; among them +also the foot-prints of men, with here and there smooth spots as if +where human bodies had reclined. That both men and horses had been +there is evident, and that they had gone off by the trace running +westward, equally so. But how they came thither is a question not so +easily answered; since the same halting-place shows no track of either +horse or man leading towards it! + +Odd all this might appear, indeed inexplicable, to one unacquainted with +the nature of a dust-storm, or unaware of the incidents which have +preceded. But to Gaspar, the gaucho, everything is as clear as +daylight; and, after a short inspection of the "sign," he thus +truthfully interprets it:-- + +"The redskins had just got thus far, when the _tormenta_ came on. It +caught them here, and that's why we see these smooth patches; they lay +down to let it blow by. Well; there's one good turn it's done us: we +now know the exact time they passed this spot; or, at all events, when +they were on it. That must have been just after we entered the cave, +and were engaged with the _tigre_--I mean it Number 1. No doubt by the +time we tackled the old Tom, they were off again. As, you see, +_muchachos_, some little rain has sprinkled that trail since they passed +over it, which shows they went away in the tail of that terrific shower. +So," he adds, turning round, and stepping back towards his horse, +"there's nothing more to be done but ride off after them; which we may +now do as rapidly as our animals can carry us." + +At this they all remount, and setting their horses' heads to the Indian +trail, proceed upon it at a brisk pace; no longer travelling tandem, but +broadly abreast. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY TWO. + +PICKING UP PEARLS. + +From their new point of departure, the trackers have no difficulty about +the direction; this traced out for them, as plain as if a row of +finger-posts, twenty yards apart, were set across the _salitral_. For +at least a league ahead they can distinguish the white list, where the +saline efflorescence has been turned up, and scattered about by the +hoofs of the Indian horses. + +They can tell by the trail that over this portion of their route the +party they are in pursuit of has not ridden in any compact or regular +order, but straggled over a wide space; so that, here and there, the +tracks of single horses show separate and apart. In the neighbourhood +of an enemy the Indians of the Chaco usually march under some sort of +formation; and Gaspar, knowing this, draws the deduction that those who +have latest passed over the _salitral_ must have been confident that no +enemy was near--either in front or following them. Possibly, also, +their experience of the _tormenta_, which must have been something +terrible on that exposed plain, had rendered them careless as to their +mode of marching. + +Whatever the cause, they now, taking up their trail, do not pause to +speculate upon it, nor make any delay. On the contrary, as hounds that +have several times lost the scent, hitherto faint, but once more +recovered, and now fresher and stronger than ever, they press on with +ardour not only renewed, but heightened. + +All at once, however, a shout from Cypriano interrupts the rapidity of +their progress--in short, bringing them to a halt--he himself suddenly +reigning up as he gives utterance to it. Gaspar and Ludwig turn +simultaneously towards him for an explanation. While their glances +hitherto have been straying far forward, he has been giving his +habitually to the ground more immediately under his horse's head, and to +both sides of the broad trail; his object being to ascertain if among +the many tracks of the Indians' horses, those of Francesca's pony are +still to be seen. + +And sure enough he sees the diminutive hoof-marks plainly imprinted--not +at one particular place, but every here and there as they go galloping +along. It is not this, however, which elicited his cry, and caused him +to come so abruptly to a stop. Instead, something which equally +interests, while more surely proclaiming the late presence of the girl, +in that place, with the certainty of her being carried along a captive. +He has caught sight of an object which lies glistening among the white +powder of the _salitre_--whitish itself, but of a more lustrous sheen. +Pearls--a string of them, as it proves upon closer inspection! At a +glance he recognises an ornament well-known to him, as worn by his +girlish cousin; Ludwig also, soon as he sees it, crying out:-- + +"It's sister's necklet!" + +Gaspar, too, remembers it; for pearls are precious things in the eyes of +a gaucho, whose hat often carries a band of such, termed the _toquilla_. + +Cypriano, flinging himself from his saddle, picks the necklace up, and +holds it out for examination. It is in no way injured, the string still +unbroken, and has no doubt dropped to the ground by the clasp coming +undone. But there are no traces of a struggle having taken place, nor +sign that any halt had been made on that spot. Instead, the pony's +tracks, there distinctly visible, tell of the animal having passed +straight on without stop or stay. In all likelihood, the catch had got +loosened at the last halting-place in that conflict with the storm, but +had held on till here. + +Thus concluding, and Cypriano remounting, they continue onward along the +trail, the finding of the pearls having a pleasant effect upon their +spirits. For it seems a good omen, as if promising that they may yet +find the one who had worn them, as also be able to deliver her from +captivity. + +Exhilarated by the hope, they canter briskly on; and for several leagues +meet nothing more to interrupt them; since that which next fixes their +attention, instead of staying, but lures them onward--the tops of tall +trees, whose rounded crowns and radiating fronds tell that they are +palms. + +It still lacks an hour of sunset, when these begin to show over the +brown waste, and from this the trackers know they are nearing the end of +the _travesia_. Cheered by the sight, they spur their horses to +increased speed, and are soon on the edge of the _salitral_; beyond, +seeing a plain where the herbage is green, as though no dust-storm had +flown over it. Nor had there, for the _tormenta_, like cyclones and +hurricanes, is often local, its blast having a well-defined border. + +Riding out upon this tract--more pleasant for a traveller--they make a +momentary halt, but still remaining in their saddles, as they gaze +inquiringly over it. + +And here Cypriano, recalling a remark which Gaspar had made at their +last camping-place, asks an explanation of it. The gaucho had expressed +a belief, that from something he remembered, they would not have much +further to go before arriving at their journey's end. + +"Why did you say that?" now questions the young Paraguayan. + +"Because I've heard the old _cacique_, Naraguana, speak of a place where +they buried their dead. Strange my not thinking of that sooner; but my +brains have been so muddled with what's happened, and the hurry we've +been in all along, I've forgotten a good many things. He said they had +a town there too, where they sometimes went to live, but oftener to die. +I warrant me that's the very place they're in now; and, from what I +understood him to say, it can't be very far t'other side this +_salitral_. He spoke of a hill rising above the town, which could be +seen a long way off: a curious hill, shaped something like a wash-basin +turned bottom upwards. Now, if we could only sight that hill." + +At this he ceases speaking, and elevates his eyes, with an interrogative +glance which takes in all the plain ahead, up to the horizon's verge. +Only for a few seconds is he silent, when his voice is again heard, this +time in grave, but gleeful, exclamation:-- + +"_Por todos Santos_! there's the hill itself!" + +The others looking out behold a dome-shaped eminence, with a flat, +table-like top recognisable from the quaint description Gaspar has just +given of it, though little more than its summit is visible above the +plain--for they are still several miles distant from it. + +"We must go no nearer to it now," observes the gaucho, adding, in a tone +of apprehension, "we may be too near already. _Caspita_! Just look at +that!" + +The last observation refers to the sun, which, suddenly shooting out +from the clouds hitherto obscuring it, again shows itself in the sky. +Not now, however, as in the early morning hours, behind their backs, but +right in front of them, and low down, threatening soon to set. + +"_Vayate_!" he continues to ejaculate in a tone of mock scorn, +apostrophising the great luminary, "no thanks to you now, showing +yourself when you're not needed. Instead, I'd thank you more if you'd +kept your face hid a bit longer. Better for us if you had." + +"Why better?" asks Cypriano, who, as well as Ludwig, has been listening +with some surprise to the singular monologue. "What harm can the sun do +us now more than ever?" + +"Because now, more than ever, he's shining inopportunely, both as to +time and place." + +"In what way?" + +"In a way to show us to eyes we don't want to see us just yet. Look at +that hill yonder. Supposing now, just by chance, any of the Indians +should be idling upon it, or they have a vidette up there. Bah! what am +I babbling about? He couldn't see us if they had; not here, unless +through a telescope, and I don't think the Tovas are so far civilised as +to have that implement among their chattels. For all, we're not safe on +this exposed spot, and the sooner we're off it the better. Some of them +may be out scouting in this direction. Come, let us get under cover, +and keep so till night's darkness gives us a still safer screen against +prying eyes. Thanks to the Virgin! yonder's the very place for our +purpose." + +He points to a clump of trees, around the stems of which appears a dense +underwood; and, soon as signalling this, he rides toward and into it, +the others after him. + +Once inside the copse, and for the time feeling secure against +observation, they hold a hasty counsel as to which step they ought next +to take. From the sight of that oddly-shaped hill, and what Caspar +remembers Naraguana to have said, they have no doubt of its being the +same referred to by the old chief, and that the sacred town of the Tovas +is somewhere beside it. So much they feel sure of, their doubts being +about the best way for them to approach the place and enter the town, as +also the most proper time. And with these doubts are, of course, +mingled many fears; though with these, strange to say, Ludwig, the +youngest and least experienced of the three, is the least troubled. +Under the belief, as they all are, that Naraguana is still living, his +confidence in the friendship of the aged _cacique_ has throughout +remained unshaken. When the latter shall be told of all that has +transpired; how his palefaced friend and protege met his death by the +assassin's hand--how the daughter of that friend has been carried off-- +surely he will not refuse restitution, even though it be his own people +who have perpetrated the double crime? + +Reasoning thus, Ludwig counsels their riding straight on to the Indian +town, and trusting to the good heart of Naraguana--throwing themselves +upon his generosity, Cypriano is equally eager to reach the place, where +he supposes his dear cousin Francesca to be pining as a prisoner; but +holds a very different opinion about the prudence of the step, and less +believes in the goodness of Naraguana. To him all Indians seem +treacherous--Tovas Indians more than any--for before his mental vision +he has ever the image of Aguara, and can think of none other. + +As for the gaucho, though formerly one of Naraguana's truest friends, +from what has happened, his faith in the integrity of the old Tovas +chief is greatly shaken. Besides, the caution, habitual to men of his +calling and kind, admonishes him against acting rashly now, and he but +restates his opinion: that they will do best to remain under cover of +the trees, at least till night's darkness comes down. Of course this is +conclusive, and it is determined that they stay. + +Dismounting, they make fast their horses to some branches, and sit down +beside them--_en bivouac_. But in this camp they kindle no fire, nor +make any noise, conversing only in whispers. One passing the copse +could hear no sound inside it, save the chattering of a flock of macaws, +who have their roosting-place amid the tops of its tallest trees. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY THREE. + +IN THE SACRED TOWN. + +That same sun which became so suddenly obscured over the _salitral_, to +shine again in the later hours of the afternoon, is once more about to +withdraw its light from the Chaco--this time for setting. Already +appears its disc almost down upon the horizon; and the strangely-shaped +hill, which towers above the Tovas town, casts a dark shadow over the +plain eastward, to the distance of many miles. The palms skirting the +lake reflect their graceful forms far over the water, whose surface, +undisturbed by the slightest breath of air, shows smooth and shining as +a mirror; broken, however, here and there, where water-fowl disport +themselves upon it. Among these may be observed the great musk duck, +misnamed "Muscovy," and the black-necked swan; both indigenous to the +Chaco; while in the shallower places along shore, and by the edges of +the islets, appear various species of long-legged waders, standing +still, or stalking about as if on stilts; the most conspicuous of all +being the scarlet flamingo, side by side with the yet taller _garzon_, +already known to us as "soldier-crane." + +A scene of tranquil yet picturesque beauty--perhaps no fairer on earth-- +is the landscape lying around the Sacred Town of the Tovas. + +And on this same day and hour, a stranger entering within the precincts +of the place itself might not observe anything to contrast with the +tranquillity of the scene outside. Among the _toldos_ he would see +children at play, and, here and there, seated by their doors young girls +engaged in various occupations; some at basket work, others weaving mats +from the fibres of split palm leaves, still others knitting _redes_, or +hammocks. Women of more mature age are busied with culinary cares, +preparing the evening repast over fires kindled in the open air; while +several are straining out the honey of the wild bee, called _tosimi_, +which a party of bee-hunters, just returned to the _tolderia_, has +brought home. + +A few of the men may also be observed moving about, or standing in +groups on the open ground adjoining the _malocca_; but at this hour most +of them are on horseback out upon the adjacent plain, there galloping to +and fro, gathering their flocks and herds, and driving them towards the +_corrals_; these flocks and herds composed of horned cattle, sheep, and +goats--the Tovas Indians being somewhat of a pastoral people. No +savages they, in the usual sense of the term, nor yet is hunting their +chief occupation. This they follow now and then, diversifying the chase +by a warlike raid into the territory of some hostile tribe, or as often +some settlement of the palefaces. For all civilisation of a certain +kind has made progress among them; having its origin in an early +immigration from Peru, when the "Children of the Sun" were conquered by +Pizarro and his _conquistadores_. At that time many Peruvians, fleeing +from the barbarous cruelty of their Spanish invaders, sought asylum in +the Chaco, there finding it; and from these the Tovas and other tribes +have long ago learnt many of the arts of civilised life; can spin their +own thread, and sew skilfully as any sempstress of the palefaces; weave +their own cloth, dress and dye it in fast colours of becoming patterns; +in short, can do many kinds of mechanical work, which no white artisan +need feel ashamed to acknowledge as his own. Above all, are they famed +for the "feather-work," or plume embroidery--an art peculiarly Indian-- +which, on their first becoming acquainted with it, astonished the rough +soldiers of Cortez and Pizarro, as much as it delighted them. + +To this day is it practised among several of the South American tribes, +notably those of the Gran Chaco, while the Tovas particularly excel in +it. But perhaps the highest evidence of these Indians having some +civilisation, is their form of government, which is in reality +Republican. For their _cacique_, or chief, although sometimes allowed +to rule by hereditary succession, is more often chosen by the sub-chiefs +and warriors; in short, elected just as the President of a Republic. + +This gives the key to Aguara's doubts and fears on returning to the +Sacred Town with Francesca Halberger as his captive. Nor are the latter +yet allayed, despite three days having elapsed since his return. Though +he has done all in his power to conceal from his people the true facts +in relation to her father's death, still certain details of the tragedy +have leaked out; and it has become known to most, that the +hunter-naturalist is not only dead, but died by the hand of an assassin. +This last, however, they suppose to have been the other white man late +on a visit to them--Valdez the _vaqueano_. For the same tale which +Aguara had told to his captive on the way, he has repeated, with some +variations, to the elders of the tribe assembled in council within the +_malocca_. So far not much of a fiction; only that part accounting for +the death of the young brave who fell to Halberger's bullet--a stray +shot, while the latter was defending himself against Valdez. + +And the daughter of the murdered man has been brought back with them, +not as a prisoner, but because it was inconvenient to take her direct to +her own home. She can and will be sent thither at the first opportunity +which offers. So promises the deceitful son of Naraguana to those of +the tribe who would call him to account. + +Meanwhile, the girl has been entrusted to the charge and safe keeping of +Shebotha, a sort of "mystery woman," or sorceress, of much power in the +community; though, as all know, under the influence of Aguara himself. +But he has not dared to take the youthful captive to his own _toldo_, or +even hint at so doing; instead, he still keeps his wicked purpose to +himself, trusting to time and Shebotha for its accomplishment. +According to his own way of thinking, he can well afford to wait. He +has no thought that anyone will ever come after the captive girl; much +less one with power to release her. It is not probable, and from a +knowledge possessed only by himself, scarcely possible. Her father is +dead, her mother doomed to worse than death, as also her brother and +that other relative--his own rival. For before parting with him, Rufino +Valdez had said what amounted to so much; and possibly by this time the +Senora Halberger, with what remained of her family, would be on the way +back to Paraguay; not returning voluntarily, but taken back by the +_vaqueano_. With this belief--a false one, as we know--the young Tovas +chief feels secure of his victim, and therefore refrains from any act of +open violence, as likely to call down upon him the censure of his +people. Though popular with the younger members of the tribe, he is not +so much in favour with the elders as to fly in the face of public +opinion; for were these aware of what has really taken place, it would +go ill with him. But as yet they are not; silence having been enjoined +on the youths who accompanied him in that ill-starred expedition, which +they, for their own sakes, have hitherto been careful to keep. + +For all, certain facts have come to light in disjointed, fragmentary +form, with deductions drawn from them, which go hard against the +character of the young _cacique_; and as the hours pass others are +added, until discontent begins to show itself among the older and more +prominent men of the tribe, chiefly those who were the friends of his +father. For these were also friends of her father, now alike +fatherless, though made so by a more cruel fate. Low murmurings are +here and there heard, which speak of an intent to prosecute inquiry on +the subject of Halberger's assassination--even to the carrying it into +Paraguay. Now that they have re-entered into amity with Paraguay's +Dictator, they may go thither, though the purpose be a strange one; to +arraign the commissioner who acted in restoring the treaty! + +With much whispering and murmurs around, it is not strange that the +young _cacique_, while dreaming of future pleasures, should also have +fears for that future. His own passion, wild as wicked, has brought him +into danger, and a storm seems brewing that, sooner or later, may +deprive him of his chieftainship. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY FOUR. + +AN INDIAN BELLE. + +If the Tovas chief be in danger of receiving punishment from his people +for carrying into captivity the daughter of his father's friend, there +is also danger to the captive herself from another and very different +source. Just as the passion of love has been the cause of her being +brought to the Sacred Town of the Tovas, that of jealousy is like to be +the means of her there finding an early grave. + +The jealous one is an Indian girl, named Nacena, the daughter of a +sub-chief, who, like Naraguana himself, was an aged man held in high +regard; and, as the deceased _cacique_, now also sleeping his last sleep +in one of their scaffold tombs. + +Despite her bronzed skin, Nacena is a beautiful creature; for the brown +is not so deep as to hinder the crimson blush showing its tint upon her +cheeks; and many a South American maiden, boasting the blue blood of +Andalusia, has a complexion less fair than she. As on this same evening +she sits by the shore of the lake, on the trunk of a fallen palm-tree, +her fine form clad in the picturesque Indian garb, with her lovely face +mirrored in the tranquil water, a picture is presented on which no eye +could look, nor thought dwell, without a feeling of delight; and, +regarding her thus, no one would believe her to be other than what she +is--the belle of the Tovas tribe. + +Her beauty had not failed to make impression upon the heart of Aguara, +long before his having become _cacique_. He has loved her too, in days +gone by, ere he looked upon the golden-haired paleface. Both children +then, and little more yet; for the Indian girl is only a year or two +older than the other. But in this southern clime, the precocity already +spoken of is not confined to those whose skins are called white, but +equally shared by the red. + +Nacena has been beloved by the son of Naraguana, and knew, or at least +believed it. But she better knows, that she has been deceived by him, +and is now slighted, about to be cast aside for another. That other +will, ere long, be chieftainess of the Tovas tribe, while she-- + +She has reflected thus far, when the bitter thought overpowering causes +her to start to her feet, a cry escaping her lips as if it came from a +heart cleft in twain. + +Nothing of this, however, shows in her face. The expression upon it is +rather that of anger, as a _jaguarete_ of her native plains, whose rage +has been aroused by the arrow of the Indian hunter suddenly piercing its +side. Hitherto silent, she is now heard to speak; but, though alone, +the words to which she gives utterance are not in soliloquy: instead, as +if spoken to some one who is near, though unseen. It is an apostrophe +meant for no mortal ears, but addressed to the Divinity of the lake! + +"Spirit of the Waters!" she cries, with arms outstretched and head +aloft, "hear my prayer! Tell me if it be true! Will he make her his +wife?" + +She is silent for a second or two, as though expecting a reply, and +listening for it. It comes, but not from the deity addressed. Out of +her own heart she has the answer. + +"He will; yes, surely will! Else, why has he brought her hither? A +false tale he has told in the council of the elders; false as himself! +Where are his words, his vows, made to me with lips that gave kisses? +Perjured--broken--gone as his love, given to another! And I am soon to +see her his queen, salute her as mine, and attend upon her as one of her +waiting maids! Never! No, Spirit of the Waters! Rather than do that, +I shall go to you; be one of your attendants, not hers. Rather than +that, thou shalt take me to thy bosom!" + +High-sounding speeches from an Indian girl, scarce fifteen years of age? +But love's eloquence is not confined to age, race, or rank, no more +than that of jealousy. Both passions may burn in the breast of the +savage maiden, as in the heart of the high-born lady--perhaps tearing it +more. Not strange they should find like expression on the lips. + +"Why not now?" continues Nacena in a tone that tells of despair, while +the cloud upon her brow is seen to grow darker. "Ah! why not? No need +waiting longer; I know all. A leap from yonder rock, and all would be +over, my suspense, as my sufferings." + +For a moment she stands with eyes fixed upon a rocky promontory, which +juts out into the lake near by. Its head overhangs the water, three +fathoms deep, as she knows. Many the time has she sprung from that +projecting point to swim, naiad-like, underneath it. But the plunge she +now meditates is not for swimming, but to sink! + +"No!" she exclaims, after a pause, as she withdraws her gaze from the +rock, the expression upon her face changing back to that of the +_jaguarete_! "No, Spirit of the Waters! not yet. Nacena fears not to +die, but that is not the death for the daughter of a Tovas chief. If +wronged, she must resent it, and will. Revenge first, and the deceiver +shall first die. After that, O Spirit, thou canst take me; Nacena will +no longer care to live." + +As she says this, the sad look returns to her countenance, replacing +that of anger; and for a time she stands with head drooped down to her +bosom, and arms hanging listlessly by her side--a very picture of +despair. + +At length, she is about to leave the spot, when a footstep warns her of +one making approach; and, turning, she sees who it is. A youth, but to +manhood grown, and wearing the insignia of a sub-chief. Though many +years older than herself, he is her brother. + +"Sister!" he says, coming up to her, and closely scanning her face, "you +have thoughts that trouble you. I would know what they are." + +"Oh, nothing," she rejoins, with an effort to appear calm. "I've only +been looking over the lake, at the birds out yonder. How they enjoy +themselves this fine evening!" + +"But you're not enjoying yourself, Nacena; nor haven't been for some +time past. I've noticed that; and more, I know the reason." + +She starts at his words; not to turn pale, but with the blood mantling +into her brown cheeks. Still she is silent. + +"You need neither deny, nor declare it," he continues. "'Tis all known +to me, save one thing. That alone I wish to ask you about. I must have +an answer, and a truthful one. As your brother I demand it, Nacena." + +She fixes her eyes upon him, in a look half-frightened, then timidly +asks: + +"What thing, Kaolin?" + +"Has he deceived you?" + +"Deceived!" she echoes, the blush upon her cheeks mounting up to her +brow, and becoming deeper red. "Brother! Had any one but you asked +that question, I would--Deceived! No; your sister would die before that +could have been. As you seem to know all, I will no longer conceal the +truth from you. You speak of Aguara. I loved him; ah! love him still. +And he told me my love was returned; spoke it solemnly; vowed it. Now I +know his words were false, and he was but beguiling me." + +"Then he has trifled with you," exclaims the brother, his indignation +now beyond bounds. "You, my sister, the daughter of a Tovas chief, of +birth and blood equal to his own! But he shall repent it, and soon. +The time has not come; it will ere long. Enough now, Nacena. Not a +word to anyone of what has passed between us. Be patient and wait. For +your wrongs, I promise, you snail have revenge." + +And with this threat, he turns away; leaving her on the lake's edge, as +he found her. + +Soon as he is out of sight, and his footfall beyond hearing, she reseats +herself on the trunk of the palm; and, supporting her head upon her +hands, gives way to weeping--a very cataract of tears. + +It seems to relieve her from the tumult of emotions late harassing her +heart, and after a time she looks up with an expression in her eyes +different from all that have preceded. It is of hope; as can be told by +the words which fall in low murmuring from her lips: + +"After all I may be mistaken. Can I? If so, and he is still true, then +I am wronging him, and Kaolin may commit a crime that will bring both +punishment and repentance. Oh, that I knew the truth! But surely, +Shebotha knows, and can tell it me. She will, for the reward I shall +offer her. This night she has promised to meet me on the hill, and +then, then--" + +She breaks off abruptly, and with countenance again clouding over. For +the words "I shall learn the worst" are on her lips, and the thought in +her mind. + +It is hope's last spark, love-lighted from embers nearly extinguished, +still flickering, faint, and vainly struggling to burn on. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY FIVE. + +AN ELEVATED GRAVEYARD. + +Just as the last glimmer of twilight is taking departure from the plain, +the three who had sought concealment under the roosting-place of macaws, +slip quietly out of the copse, and ride away from it, leaving the noisy +birds, now silent, behind them. + +There is yet light enough to enable them to take bearings by the hill, +which, as they have rightly conjectured, rises over the Tovas town; and, +heading direct towards it, after a couple of hours spent in riding at a +brisk pace, they arrive at the rocky steep forming a periphery to its +base. As there is now a clear moonlight, caution dictates their again +getting under cover; which they do by drawing their horses close in to +the adjacent cliff, whose shadow sufficiently conceals them. But it is +not intended to stay long there. At their last halting-place they had +considered everything, and decided upon the steps to be taken; so far as +they can, from what is known to them. If the circumstances change, or +turn out different from what they are expecting, they must be guided in +their action accordingly. + +Still in the belief of Naraguana being alive, Ludwig is again of the +opinion that they should push on to the town without further delay. The +place cannot now be far-off; for at the hill's base they have struck a +broad and much-travelled trail denoting the proximity of a settlement. +Cypriano is undecided, but Gaspar, as before, goes strongly against +proceeding directly onward. + +"You speak of delay, Senor Ludwig," he says; "but in this case, the old +adage, `More haste less speed,' might be true, as it often is. Besides, +what would we gain by entering their town now? It isn't likely we +should accomplish anything to-night. You forget the hour it is--nigh +unto midnight. And as the custom of most Chaco Indians is early to bed +and early to rise, we'd no doubt find every redskin of them asleep, with +only their dogs to receive us. _Carrai_! A nice reception that would +be! Like as not some scores of half-famished curs to fall upon us-- +perhaps drag us out of our saddles. Whereas, in the morning all would +be different, with the people up to protect us from such an assault. +But whether we enter at night, or by day, I still stick to the belief, +that it will be better to do so by stealth; at least, one of us should +first slip in that way, and learn how the land lies. In any case, we +ought to have a squint at this Sacred Town, before trusting ourselves +within its walls--if walls it have. From the look of things here, I +fancy it lies on the other side of this hill. By climbing the hill now, +and staying on its top till daybreak, we'll get a god view of the town, +which will, no doubt, be right under us. We can see all through the +streets, and what's going on in them. That will give us a hint of how +to act afterwards, and if things look favourable, we might then ride +boldly in; which, after all, may be the best way of introducing +ourselves--only it should be done in the daylight." + +Cypriano sees that the gaucho's reasoning is correct; and Ludwig also +acknowledging it to be so, it is finally decided that they ascend the +hill, and remain upon its summit for the rest of that night. + +But now comes a question not hitherto asked, or thought of. How is the +ascent to be made, and where is there a path practicable for making it? +Not only is it steep, but its sides are thickly overgrown with trees, +and between their trunks a dense tangle of underwood. + +"It must be on its summit, they have their burying-ground," observes +Gaspar, gazing upward. "Yes; Naraguana spoke of its being on the top of +a hill, and there's no other hill near. If that be the case, and they +carry their dead up, there'll sure be some sort of a road for their +funeral processions. That would likely be on the other side, straight +up from the town. But I warrant there's a trail starts from this side +too, and runs right over the hill. Let's ride along a bit, and see if +there be." + +The gaucho's conjecture is correct, as they soon discover. Before they +have ridden three score lengths of their horses, keeping close along the +base of the hill, they perceive an opening in the timber which skirts +it, marked by certain insignia denoting the entrance to a +much-frequented path. For though narrow, it shows well trampled and +trodden. Diverging abruptly from the broad road running on round the +hill, it strikes in under a tall cotton tree, a _ceiba_, this +conspicuous from being bent over, as if half-blown down. The path +enters between its trunk and a gigantic _pita_ plant (_agave_), whose +stiff spinous leaves almost bar up the entrance as with an iron gate. + +"That's the way we've got to go," says Gaspar, pointing to it, at the +same time setting his horse's head in the direction of the _ceiba_; then +adding, as he nods towards the _pita_ plant; "have a care of your heads, +_hijos mios_! Look out for this queer customer on the left, or you may +get your soft cheeks scratched a bit." + +On delivering the admonition he ducks his own head, and passing under +the thorny leaves of the _agave_, commences the ascent of the hill. + +Cypriano and Ludwig do likewise; and all three are soon climbing the +steep, one behind the other, now in silence, the only sounds heard being +the hoof-strokes of the horses, with their hard breathing as they strain +up the acclivity. + +A quarter of an hour's tough climbing carries them up the wooded slope, +and out upon the open summit, where they have a spectacle before their +eyes peculiar, as it is original. As already said, the hill is +table-topped, and being also dome-shaped the level surface is circular, +having a diameter of some three or four hundred yards. Nothing strange +in this, however, since hills of the kind, termed _mesas_, are common +throughout most parts of Spanish America, and not rare in the Gran +Chaco. All three are familiar with such eminences. But what they are +not familiar with--and indeed none of them have ever seen before--are +some scores of queer-looking structures standing all over the summit, +with alley-like spaces between! Scaffolds they appear, each having two +stages, one above the other, such as might be used in the erection of a +two-storey house! + +And scaffolds they are, though not employed in any building purposes; +instead, for that of burial. They are the tombs on which are deposited +the bodies of the Tovas dead; or those of them that during life were +dignitaries in the tribe. + +On this elevated cemetery the moon is shining brightly, though +obliquely, throwing the shadows of the scaffolds aslant, so that each +has its counterpart on the smooth turf by its side, dark as itself, but +magnified in the moonlight. Gaspar and his companions can see that +these singular mausoleums are altogether constructed of timber, the +supporting posts being trunks of the _Cocoyol_ palm, the lower staging +of strong canes, the _cana brava_, laid side by side, while the upper +one, or roof, is a thatch of the leaves of another species of palm--the +_cuberta_. + +After contemplating them for an instant, Gaspar says: "This is the +burying-ground Naraguana spoke to me about, beyond a doubt. And not +such a bad sort of place either to take one's final rest in, after +life's worries are over. I shouldn't much object to being laid out in +that style myself. Only I'd need friends to live after me, and keep the +structure in repair; otherwise the frail thing might some day come +tumbling down, and my poor bones along with it." + +At the conclusion of this quaint speech, he gives the rein to his horse, +and moves on among the tombs, making for the opposite side of the +cemetery, the others following in silence. For from the brow of the +hill on its westward side, they expect to look down upon the Indian +town. + +"It must be on t'other side," observes the gaucho, as they proceed. "I +remember the old chief saying the _tolderia_ was west of the hill." + +When half-way across he again reins up, halting his horse alongside one +of the scaffolds, conspicuous among the rest by its larger size, as also +a certain freshness about the timbers of which it is constructed; some +chips scattered around the supports, where these have been chopped and +barked, telling of recent erection. It is not this, however, has +prompted Gaspar to make stop beside it; but simply that he there sees a +place suitable for the stalling of their horses. There is no need to +take the animals on to the other side, but better leave them there, and +themselves go forward afoot. + +Thus reflecting, all three dismount, and attach their horses to the +corner posts of the scaffold, each choosing one for his own. Then, with +cautious steps, they continue to the outer edge of the circle, and +pushing through some trees that skirt it, look to the plain below. Sure +enough, there is the thing they expected to see--an Indian town or +_tolderia_. A large lake lies beyond, on whose tranquil surface the +moon makes a mirror, as if it were glass. But their eyes rest only upon +the town, their ears bent to catch any sound that may come up from it. + +It is not long till sounds do ascend, the barking of dogs, with now and +then the lowing of cattle, and neighing of horses; but no human voice, +nothing to tell that the place is inhabited by man. For there is no +smoke from the houses, no lights anywhere, everybody seeming to be +asleep. + +Nothing strange in all this; nor do they looking down from the hill +think it so. Instead, things are just as they should be and as Caspar +anticipated they would. For it is now the midnight hour, and since red +men must have rest as well as white ones, the Tovas have all retired to +their beds or hammocks. + +So concluding, and satisfied with what they see--reflecting further that +nothing more can be done till morning--the gaucho and his companions go +back to their horses, with the intention of taking off the saddles, and +otherwise disposing of them for the night. + +It was at first proposed to keep them tied to the scaffold-posts, but on +a second inspection of the place, Gaspar sees it is not the best one +either for their animals or themselves to pass the night in. Should +they go to rest under the scaffold, while asleep, their horses turning +restive might pull down the posts, and bring rattling about their ears +the bones of some dead _cacique_! Besides, the ground underneath is not +nice to repose upon; being without herbage and trampled all over, some +parts seeming freshly turned up. The gaucho would prefer a patch of +soft grass to lay his limbs along, and this very thing he has noticed +while they were out on the brow of the eminence overlooking the town. +Here a grand fig-tree had attracted his attention, under its branches +seeming the most proper place for them to encamp. Its far-spreading and +umbrageous boughs drooping back to the ground and there taking root--as +the Indian _banyan_ of which it is the New World representative-- +enclosed a large space underneath. It would not only give them a +shelter from the dews of the night, but concealment from the eyes of +anyone who might chance to be passing that way. + +With these manifest advantages in favour of the ground under the +fig-tree as a camping-place, and the disadvantages of that beneath the +scaffold, the latter is without further ado forsaken, and the former +taken possession of. + +As no camp-fire can be safely kindled, nor food cooked, they must go to +sleep supperless. + +Fortunately none of them is a-hungered, all having made a hearty meal +while within the _macaw's_ grove. There they had polished off the grand +"drumsticks" of the ostrich, by good luck already roasted. So caring +not for supper, after having disposed of their horses by tying them to +branches of the fig-tree, they stretch themselves along the ground, and +seek repose, which on this night they all need, as much as on any other +since starting upon their long-protracted expedition. + +Still, they do not intend to be all asleep at the same time. In such a +place, with the danger of being found in it, that would never do. One +of the three must remain awake and on watch; so it is arranged that they +take the duty of sentinel in turns. As the present hour appears to be +the one calling for keenest vigilance, Caspar volunteers for the first +turn of guard; and the other two wrapping their ponchos around them, and +resting their heads upon their _recados_, with a mutual _Buenas noches_! +become silent, if not asleep. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY SIX. + +A DEAD MAN IDENTIFIED. + +Whether his young companions be sleeping or awake, the gaucho does not +stay by their side; but, almost as soon as seeing them disposed along +the earth, slips out from under the fig-tree, and facing towards the +central part of the cemetery, walks off in that direction. His object +is to revisit the scaffold lately left by them, and make a more detailed +examination of it. Not that he cares aught about the structure itself. +It is not the first time for him to have seen similar burying-places of +the Chaco Indians, and he knows as much about them as he cares to know. +Nor is his object, in returning to this particular one, of a very +definite character; but rather because a vague idea or instinct has come +into his mind which prompts him to the act--a sort of presentiment that +he may there see something to throw light on much of what has been all +along mystifying him. To go thither will in no way interfere with his +duties as a sentinel, since he can perform these equally well or better +by moving about. Besides, it will help to beguile the time, as also +make him familiar with the ground they have got upon--a familiarity that +may hereafter prove of service to them. As already stated, he had +observed that the scaffold is of recent erection, telling that the man +or woman laid upon it cannot have been very long dead. He had, +moreover, noticed, while attaching his bridle to one of the uprights, +that a series of notches was cut in the post, evidently to facilitate +ascent. In all likelihood, the surviving relatives of the deceased are +in the habit of coming thither at periodical intervals, to adorn the +tomb with flowers or other tokens of affectionate memory; perhaps bring +votive offerings to the spirit which presides over that consecrated +spot. But whatever the purpose of the notches, the gaucho knows they +will enable him to climb up with ease, and see what rests upon the +platform. + +Approaching the catafalque with silent tread, he stands for a time +gazing at it without making any movement to mount up. Not from +curiosity does he so regard it; but something akin to awe has stolen +over his spirit, and he almost fears further to intrude on the +sacredness of the place. Besides, the act requires caution. What if +some of the Indians given to nocturnal straying should chance to come +that way, and see him up those stairs, desecrating the abode of the +dead? Even were there no other reason for his fearing to be found in +that place, the act itself would make him liable to punishment--possibly +no less than death! For among the Tovas, as many other tribes of South +American Indians--infidels though they are called--the tombs of their +dead are held as sacred as those of the Spanish Christians who so +designate them. + +Notwithstanding all this, Gaspar the gaucho is not to be baulked in his +design. He has not come to the bottom of that curious catafalque, to go +away again without seeing what is above. And though he stands +hesitating, it is only for a short while, finally making up his mind to +ascend. + +Ascend he does; laying hold of one of the notched corner posts, and +climbing the primitive ladder, as it were, set ready and awaiting him. + +As the moon is by this far down in the sky, its beams are not obstructed +by the roof thatch, but fall obliquely upon the floor of the platform +beneath. There, lying at full length, the gaucho perceives a form, +easily recognisable as that of a human being, though swathed in various +kinds of cloths, which cover it from head to foot. The body of a man, +moreover, as can be told by its size and shape; while beside, and +arranged around it, are certain insignia proclaiming it to be that of +some distinguished chieftain of the Tovas. There are spears, shields, +_macanas_, lazoes, bolas--among them the _bola perdida_, some of these +weapons placed upon the platform alongside the corpse, others suspended +from the beams and poles supporting the thatch of the roof. There is +horse-gear as well--the multifarious trappings which appertain to the +caparison of a gaucho's steed--recado, carona, caronilla, jerga, with +Mameluke bitts and spurs of immensely large rowels; for all these are +possessed by the higher order of pampas Indians, and notably their +chiefs--property they have picked up in some plundering expedition, +where gauchos themselves have been their victims. + +Just such a thought passes through the mind of gaucho Gaspar, as his +eyes rest on the grand array displayed on the _cacique's_ tomb. For +that it is the tomb of a _cacique_, and one of grand note, he has not a +doubt, seeing such a selection of trophies. In addition to the war +weapons and implements of the chase, there are articles of dress and +adornment; bracelets of gold, bead necklets and belts, with coronets of +bright-coloured plumes; while most conspicuous of all is a large +feather-embroidered _manta_, covering the corpse from head to foot, even +concealing the face. + +Still there is nothing in all this to astonish Gaspar Mendez, or in any +way give him a surprise. He has seen the like before, and often among +the Auracanian Indians, who are kindred with the tribes of the Chaco. +He but makes the reflection, how silly it is in these savages thus to +expose such fine commodities to the weather, and let them go to loss and +decay--all to satisfy a heathen instinct of superstition! And thus +reflecting, he would in all probability have lowered himself back to the +ground, but for that presentiment still upon him. It influences him to +remain a moment longer balancing himself upon the notched upright, and +gazing over the platform. Just then the moon getting clear of some +cirrhus clouds, and shining brighter than ever, lights up an object +hitherto unnoticed by him, but one he recognises as an old acquaintance. +He starts on beholding a felt hat of the Tyrolese pattern, which he +well remembers to have seen worn by his master, the hunter-naturalist, +and by him given to the aged _cacique_ of the Tovas as a token of +friendship. And now he feels the presentiment which has been upon him +all explained and fulfilled. Springing up on the platform, and +uncovering the face of the corpse, he beholds--Naraguana! + + + +CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN. + +GASPAR DESPONDENT. + +"Naraguana dead!" exclaims the gaucho, as standing upon the scaffold he +gazes upon the form at his feet. "_Santissima_! this is strange!" + +"But is it certainly the old _cacique_?" he adds, again stooping down +and raising the selvedge of feather cloth, which had fallen back over +the face. Once more exposed to view, the features deeply-furrowed with +age--for Naraguana was a very old man--and now further shrivelled by the +dry winds of the Chaco, with the skin drawn tight over high-cheek bones, +and hollow, sightless sockets, where once shone pair of eyes coal-black +and keen--all this under the pale moonlight, presents a spectacle at +once weird-like and ghastly, as if of a death's head itself! + +Still it is the face of Naraguana, as at a glance the gaucho perceives, +muttering, "Yes; it's the old chief, sure enough. Dead, and dried up +like a mummy! Died of old age, no doubt. Well," he continues, in +graver tone, "by whatever way he may have come to his end, no greater +misfortune could have befallen us. _Carrai_! it's Satan's own luck!" + +Having thus delivered himself, he stands for a while on the platform, +but no longer looking at the corpse, nor any of the relics around it. +Instead, his eyes are turned towards the tree, under whose shadow his +youthful comrades are reclining, and as he supposes asleep. On that +side is the moon, and as her light falls over his face, there can be +seen upon it an expression of great anxiety and pain--greater than any +that has marked it since that moment, when in the _sumac_ grove he bent +over the dead body of his murdered master. + +But the troubled look now overspreading his features springs not from +grief, nor has anger aught to do with it. Instead, it is all +apprehension. For now, as though a curtain had been suddenly lifted +before his eyes, he sees beyond it, there perceiving for himself and his +companions danger such as they had not yet been called upon to +encounter. All along the route their thoughts were turned to Naraguana, +and on him rested their hopes. Naraguana can do nothing for them now. + +"No!" reflects the gaucho, despairingly; "we can expect no help from +him. And who else is there to give it? Who, besides, would have the +power to serve us, even if the will be not wanting? No one, I fear. +_Mil Diablos_! it's a black look-out, now--the very blackest!" + +Again facing round to the corpse, and fixing his eyes upon the still +uncovered face, he seems to examine it as though it were a trail upon +the pampas, in order to discover what tale it may tell. And just for a +like purpose does he now scrutinise the features of the dead _cacique_, +as appears by his soliloquy succeeding. + +"Yes; I understand it all now--everything. He's been dead some time--at +least two or three weeks. That explains their leaving the other town in +such haste, and coming on here. Dead, or deadly sick, before he left +it, the old chief would have himself to think of, and so sent no word to +us at the _estancia_. No blame to him for not doing so. And now that +the young one's in power, with a fool's head and a wolf's heart, what +may we expect from him? Ah, what? In a matter like this, neither grace +nor mercy. I know he loves the _muchachita_, with such love as a savage +may--passionately, madly. All the worse for her, poor thing! And all +the poorer chance for us to get her away from him. _Por Dios_! it does +look dark." + +After a pause, he continues: + +"His making her a captive and bringing her on here, I can quite +understand; that's all natural enough, since his father being dead, +there's no longer any one to hinder him doing as he likes. It's only +odd his chancing to meet master out that day, so far from home. One +would suppose he'd been watching the _estancia_, and saw them as they +went away from it. But then, there were no strange tracks about the +place, nor anywhere near it. And I could discover none by the old +_tolderia_ that seemed at all fresh, excepting those of the shod horse. +But whoever rode him didn't seem to have come anywhere near the house; +certainly not on this side. For all that, he might have approached it +from the other, and then ridden round, to meet the Indians afterwards at +the crossing of the stream. Well, I shall give the whole ground a +better examination once we get back." + +"Get back!" he exclaims, repeating his words after a pause, and in +changed tone. "Shall we ever get back? That's the question now, and a +very doubtful one it is. But," he adds, turning to descend from the +scaffold, "it won't help us any on the road my remaining up here. If +the old _cacique's_ body still had the breath in it, may be it might. +But as it hasn't the sooner I bid good-bye to it the better. _Adios_, +Naraguana! _Pasa V. buena noche_!" + +Were death itself staring him in the face, instead of seeing it as he +does in the face of another man, Gaspar the gaucho, could not forego a +jest, so much delights he to indulge in his ludicrous humour. + +After unburdening himself as above, he once more closes his arms around +the notched post, and lowers himself from the platform. + +But again upon the ground, and standing with face toward the fig-tree, +the gravity of its expression is resumed, and he seems to hesitate about +returning to the place of bivouac, where his youthful companions are now +no doubt enjoying the sweets of a profound slumber. + +"A pity to disturb them!" he mutters to himself; "and with such a tale +as I have now to tell. But it must be told, and at once. Now that +everything's changed, new plans must be thought of, and new steps taken. +If we're to enter the Indian town at all, it will have to be in a +different way from what we intended. _Caspita_! how the luck's turned +against us!" + +And with this desponding reflection, he moves off from the scaffold; +and, making his way among the mausoleums, once more approaches the spot +where the South American banyan casts its sombre shadow over them. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT. + +BREAKING BAD NEWS. + +Caspar has been mistaken in supposing the other two asleep. One of them +is--Ludwig, who sleeps soundly, and to all appearance peacefully. Not +that he is indifferent to the seriousness of the situation, or less +anxious about the upshot, than Cypriano. He but slumbers, because he is +naturally of a more somnolent habit than his cousin, as also, being the +weaker of the two, from the effects of a journey so long sustained, and +travelling at such a pace. Moreover, he is not even yet quite recovered +from the damage done him by the gymnoti; their electricity still acting +on his nervous system, and producing a certain lassitude. + +There is yet another reason why Ludwig has let himself go to sleep--one +of a moral nature. As is known, he still adheres to his belief in the +fidelity of Naraguana, and, so believing, is least of them all +apprehensive about the result. At this moment he may be dreaming of the +old _cacique_, though little dreams he that his dead body is so near! + +Altogether different is it with Cypriano. This night there is no sleep +for him, nor does he think of taking any. Though he lay down alongside +his cousin, wrapping himself in his poncho, he did not long remain +recumbent. Instead, soon starting to his feet again, he has been pacing +to and fro under the fig-tree, wondering where Gaspar has gone. For, as +known, the gaucho had slipped off without making noise, or saying word. + +Missing him, the young Paraguayan would call out his name. But he fears +to raise his voice, lest it reach other ears than those for which it was +intended. Reflecting, moreover, that Gaspar is pretty sure to have some +good reason for absenting himself, and that his absence will not likely +be for long, he awaits his return in silence. Therefore, when the +gaucho in coming back draws nigh to the fig-tree, he sees a form within +the periphery of its shadow, that of Cypriano, standing ready to receive +him. The latter first speaks, asking: "Where have you been, Gaspar?" + +"Oh! only taking a turn among the tombs." + +"And you've seen something among them to make you uneasy?" + +"Why do you say that, Senorito?" + +"Because I can see it in your countenance." The gaucho, as he +approaches, has the moon full upon his face, and by her light the other +has observed the troubled look. + +"What is it?" the youth goes on to ask, in a tone of eager anxiety, all +the more from seeing that the other hesitates to give the explanation. +"You've discovered something--a new danger threatens us? Come, Gaspar, +you may as well tell me of it at once." + +"I intend telling you, _hijo mio_. I was only waiting till we were all +three together. For now, I think, we'll have to rouse Master Ludwig. +You've conjectured aright, as I'm sorry to say. I _have_ seen something +that's not as we would wish it. Still, it may not be so bad as I've +been making it." + +Notwithstanding this hopeful proviso, Cypriano is himself now really +alarmed; and, impatient to learn what the new danger is, he stoops down +over his cousin, takes hold of his arm, and shakes him out of his +slumbers. + +Ludwig, starting to his feet, confusedly inquires why he has been +disturbed. Then Gaspar, coming close to them, so that he need not speak +in a loud voice, gives an account of what he has discovered, with his +own views relating to it. + +As he himself did, both the boys at once comprehend the changed +situation, with a like keen sense of the heightened danger to result +from it. Naraguana's death has extinguished all hope of help from him. +It may be both the cause and forecast of their own! + +Their prospects are now gloomy indeed; but they do not idly dwell on +them, or give way to utter despondency. That would be unavailing; +besides, there is no time for it. Something must be done to meet the +altered circumstances. But what? A question to which none of them +makes an immediate answer, since none can. + +For awhile all three stand silent, considering. Only a short while, +when Gaspar is again stirred to activity, by reflecting that even now +they are not safe. One of their horses, frightened by an owl that has +flapped its wings close to its face, has snorted, striking the hard +ground with his hoof, and making a noise that reverberates throughout +the cemetery, echoing among the scaffolds. What if he should set to +neighing, in answer to that which now and then comes up from the town +below? The thing is too probable, and the result manifest. A single +neigh might betray them; for what would horses be doing up there upon +the sacred hill? So would any Indian ask who should chance to hear it. + +"We must muffle our animals," says Caspar. "And what's more, take them +back to the other side, where we came up. There we can better conceal +them among the bushes. Besides, if it should come to our being under +the necessity of a speedy retreat, we'll be nearer to the back-track, +and have a fairer chance of getting off. Senoritos! get your jergas, +and wrap them round your horses' heads." + +He sets the example by so disposing of his own; and, accustomed to quick +action in matters of the kind, all three soon have their animals +"tapado." Then, leading them across to where the path ascends on the +opposite side, they place them under cover of some thick bushes growing +near by, Caspar saying: + +"They'll be safe enough here, I take it; at all events till the morning. +Then we may move them elsewhere, and if we're to have a run for it, +remember, _hijos mios_, 'twill be a race for our lives. There's no +Naraguana now to stand between us and that young wolf, who I fear has +got the dear little lamb in his clutches, so fast we'll have great--" + +The effect of his words are such, upon those listening to them, that he +suddenly interrupts himself in what he was about to say, and in changed +tone continues: "_Carramba_! we'll rescue her yet, Naraguana, or no +Naraguana. It can be done without him, and I think I know the way." + +In saying so, Caspar is practising a slight deception, his object being +to cheer his young companions, over whom his last speech seemed to cast +the gloom of despair. For he has as yet thought of no way, nor +conceived any definite plan of action. When asked by Cypriano to +explain himself, he is silent; and appealed to, he answers by evasion. +The truth is, that up to the instant of his finding Naraguana's body +upon the scaffold, he too had been trusting all to what the latter would +do for them; and no more than Ludwig could he believe the good old chief +to have turned traitor to the palefaced friend so long under his +protection, much less connived at his assassination. Now, the gaucho +knows he has had no hand either in the murder of his master, or the +abduction of that master's daughter. These events must have occurred +subsequent to his death, and, while they were in the act of occurrence, +Naraguana was sleeping his last sleep under his plumed _manta_ upon that +elevated platform. His son and successor--for Gaspar doubts not that +Aguara has succeeded him in the chieftainship--is answerable for the +deed of double crime, whoever may have been his aiders and abettors. + +Of course, this makes the case all the more difficult to deal with, +since the new _cacique_, by this time established in full plenitude of +power, will have it all his own way, and can carry things with a high +hand, as he most surely will. To make appeal to him for the restitution +of the captive would be manifestly idle, like asking a tiger to +surrender the prey it holds between its teeth or in its claws. The +gaucho has no thought of so appealing, any more than either of the +others. And no more than they has he formed a plan of future action. +Only now, after their disposal of the horses, is his brain busy in the +conception of some scheme suited to the changed circumstances; and +hence, on Cypriano asking him to tell the way he knew of, he but replies +evasively, saying: + +"Be patient, Senorito! Wait till we've got things a little snug, then +I'll take pleasure in telling you. But we mustn't remain here. On the +other side of this queer cemetery, where the road runs down to the +_tolderia_--as I've no doubt there is such--that will be the place for +us to spend the night in. There we can see and hear what passes on the +plain, and should any one stray up we'll be warned of it, either by our +eyes or ears, in good time to get out of their way. So let us cross +over. And we must step silently," he adds, pointing to the _cacique's_ +scaffold tomb, "lest we disturb the sleep of old Naraguana, up yonder." + +With this facetious remark, made partly in the indulgence of his usual +humour, but as much to raise the spirits of his young companions, he +strides off among the odd structures, making direct for the other side +of the cemetery, Ludwig and Cypriano following in single file. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY NINE. + +GASPAR MEANS MASQUERADING. + +As they might truly anticipate, the gaucho's conjecture proves to be +correct. A road runs up to the summit of the hill on its western side; +not direct, but somewhat zigzagged, in consequence of the slope on that +face being steeper, and the ground more rocky and uneven. Withal, it is +much wider than that by which they ascended, the latter being only a +path leading out to the uninhabited pampa: while the former is the main +thoroughfare between town and cemetery. It debouches on the level +summit through a slight hollow, or defile, possibly due to the wear and +tear of travel, continued through the long ages. Many a funeral +procession, and from the most remote time, may have wound its way up +that steep slope, passing between two cliffs, which, like the posterns +of some grand gateway, mark the entrance to this elevated burial-place. + +They do not go direct to the point where the town road enters the +cemetery ground, but first back to the fig-tree to get their guns, +ponchos, and some other articles left under it in their haste to put the +horses in a better place of security. Having recovered the weapons and +chattels, they proceed in search of the road. It is easily found, as +all the paths between the separate scaffolds run into it. The point +where it comes up out of the defile is but a short distance from the +fig-tree; and on reaching this point they take their stand under the +cliff; the one on the right hand side: for the moon being behind this, +its shadow is projected more than half across the causeway of the road, +so giving them a safe spot to stand in. + +But they do not remain long upon their feet. Gaspar, observing a low +bench of rock at the cliff's base behind them, repeats a Spanish synonym +of the old saw, "It's as cheap sitting as standing;" and with this drops +down upon the ledge, the others doing likewise. + +The spot thus chosen is in every way answerable for the object they have +in view. They are right over the Indian town, and can see into its +streets, so far as is permitted by the moon's declining light. It +commands, moreover, a view of the road, for a good reach below, to the +first angle of the zigzag, and no one could ascend beyond that point +without being seen by them so long as there is light; while there is no +danger of being themselves seen. One passing up, even when opposite the +place where they are seated, would not perceive them; since, in addition +to the shadowing cliff, there is a thick scrub between them and the +travelled track, effectually screening them. + +The advantages of the position are apparent to all; and, soon as settled +in it, Cypriano once more calls upon Gaspar to make known the plan he +has hinted at. + +Thus again challenged, the gaucho, who has meanwhile been doing his best +to trace out some course of action, responds, speaking in a slow, +meditative way. For as yet he has but a vague idea of what ought to be +done. + +"Well," he says, "there's but one plan I can think of as at all likely +to be successful. It may be, if dexterously managed; and I dare say we +can so manage it." + +He pauses, seeming to deliberate within himself; which the two youths +perceiving, refrain to ask further questions, leaving him to continue at +his own time. + +Which at length he does, with the odd observation:-- + +"One of us must become an Indian." + +"Become an Indian!" exclaims Ludwig. "What mean you by that, Gaspar?" + +"I mean counterfeit a redskin; get disguised as one, and so steal into +their town." + +"Ah! now, I understand. But that will be a dangerous thing to do, +Gaspar. If caught--" + +"Of course it will be dangerous," interrupts the gaucho. "If caught, +whoever of us it be, would no doubt get his skull crushed in by a +_macana_, or maybe his body burnt over a slow fire. But as you see +everything's dangerous for us now, one may as well risk that danger as +any other. As to counterfeiting an Indian, I propose taking the part +myself; and I should be able to play it pretty well, having, as you both +know, had some experience in that line. It was by a trick of the same +sort I got off from the Guaycurus when I was their prisoner up the +Pilcomayo; and if I hadn't done it neatly, you shouldn't now see me +here." + +"How did you manage it?" queries Ludwig mechanically, or rather, to know +how he intended doing it now. + +"Well, I borrowed the costume of an ugly savage, who was set to keep +guard over me, having first taken a loan of his hardwood club. The club +I returned to him, in a way he wouldn't have wished had he been awake. +But he was silly enough to go to sleep, and was sleeping when I took +it--ah! and slept on after I returned it--ever after. His dress I kept, +and wore for more than a week--in short, till I got back to Paraguay, +for I was over a week on the road. It fitted me well; so well, that +with some colouring stuff I found in the fellow's pouch, I was able to +paint Indian, pass among the tents of the Guaycurus, and through a crowd +of the savages themselves, without one of them suspecting the trick. In +that way I slipped out of their camp and off. So, by something of the +same I may be able to get the dear little _nina_ out of this town of the +Tovas." + +"Oh! do it, Gaspar!" exclaims Cypriano; "do that, and all I have will be +yours." + +"Yes! all we both have," adds Ludwig; "all there is at the _estancia_. +But rescue sister, and I'm sure my mother will make you welcome to +everything." + +"_Ta-ta_!" returns the gaucho, in a tone of reproach at being thus +bargained with; gentle, however, as he knows it is from their anxiety +about Francesca. "Why, _hijos mios_, what are you speaking of? +Promises to me,--a bribe for but doing my duty! 'Twill be a far day +before Gaspar Mendez will need that for service done to either friend or +relative of his dear dead master--ay, to the laying down of my life. +_Carramba_! are we not all embarked in the same boat, to swim or sink +together? But we sha'n't sink yet; not one of us. No; we shall swim +out of this sea of troubles, and triumphantly. Cease despairing, then; +for after all there mayn't be so much danger. Though Naraguana be dead, +there's one above him, above all, up there in Heaven, who will not +forsake us in this our extremity. Let us kneel and pray to Him." + +And they do kneel; Ludwig, as called upon by Gaspar repeating the Lord's +prayer, with a solemnity befitting the occasion. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY. + +A MIDNIGHT PROMENADER. + +Rising from their knees, and resuming their seats upon the ledge, they +return to the subject of discourse, interrupted by their devotional +interlude; Caspar declaring it his fixed intention to disguise himself +as an Indian, and so seek entrance into the town. No matter what the +danger, he is ready to risk it. + +The others consenting, the next question that comes before them is, how +the disguise is to be got up. About this there seems a difficulty to +Ludwig, and also to Cypriano; though recalling the transformation of the +latter into a soldier-crane, so quickly done by the deft hands of the +gaucho, they doubt not that he will also find the ways and means for +transforming himself into a redskin. + +"If we only had a Tovas Indian here," he says, "as I had that sleepy +Guaycuru, I'd not be long in changing clothes with him. Well, as we +can't borrow a dress, I must see what can be done to make one. Good +luck, there's no great quantity of cloth in a Tovas suit, and the +stitching isn't much. All that's needed is a bit of breech-clout, which +I can make out of the tail of my shirt; then the poncho over my +shoulders, that will cover everything." + +"But the colour of your skin, Gaspar! Wouldn't that betray you?" + +Ludwig thus interrogates, not thinking how easily the dexterous gaucho +can alter his complexion, nor recalling what he has said about his +having done so to disguise himself as a Guaycuru. + +"It might," returns Gaspar; "and no doubt would, if I left it as it is; +which I don't intend doing. True, my face is not so fair as to need +much darkening, beyond what the sun has done for it. I've seen some +Tovas Indians with cheeks nigh as white as my own, and so have you, +senoritos. As for my arms, legs, and body, they'll require a little +browning, but as it so happens I've got the stuff to give it them. +After the service rendered me by a coat of that colour, you may trust +this gaucho never to go on any expedition over the pampas without a cake +of brown paint stowed away in some corner of his _alparejas_. For the +poncho, it won't be out of place. As you know, there are many of the +common kind among the Tovas Indians, worn and woven by them; with some +of better sort, snatched, no doubt, from the shoulders of some poor +gaucho, found straying too far from the settlements." + +"But, Gaspar," says Ludwig, still doubting the possibility of the +scheme; "surely such a disguise as you speak of will never do? In the +daylight they'd see through it." + +"Ah! in the daylight, yes, they might. But I don't intend giving them +that chance. If I enter their town at all, and I see no other way for +it, that entry must be made in the darkness. I propose making it +to-morrow evening, after the sun's gone down, and when it's got to be +late twilight. Then they'll all be off guard, engaged in driving their +animals into the _corrales_, and less likely to notice any one strolling +about the streets." + +"But supposing you get safe into the place, and can go about without +attracting attention, what will you do?" questions Ludwig. + +"What can you?" is the form in which Cypriano puts it. + +"Well, senoritos, that will depend on circumstances, and a good deal on +the sort of luck in store for us. Still you mustn't suppose I'm +trusting all to chance. Gaspar Mendez isn't the man to thrust his hand +into a hornet's nest, without a likelihood--nay, a certainty, of drawing +some honey out of it." + +"Then you have such certainty now?" interrogates Cypriano, a gleam of +hope irradiating his countenance. For the figurative words lead him to +believe that the gaucho has not yet revealed the whole of his scheme. + +"Of course I have," is Gaspar's rejoinder. "If I hadn't we might as +well give everything up, and take the back-track home again. We won't +do that, while there's a chance left for taking the _muchachita_ along +with us." + +"Never!" exclaims Cypriano, with determined emphasis. "If I have to go +into their town myself, and die in it, I'll do that rather than return +without my cousin." + +"Be calm, _hijo mio_!" counsels Gaspar in a soothing tone, intended to +curb the excitement of the fiery youth; "I don't think there will be any +need for you either to enter the town, or lay down your life in it. +Certainly neither, unless my plan get spoiled by the ill luck that's +been so long hanging about us. It isn't much of a plan after all; only +to find one of the Indians, to whom I did a service when they were +living at their old place. I cured the man of a complaint, which, but +for the medicine I administered, would have carried him off to the happy +hunting grounds--where just then he didn't wish to go. That medicine +wasn't mine either. I had it from the _dueno_. But the sick man gave +me credit for it all the same, and swore if I ever stood in need of his +services, I could count upon receiving them, sure. From what I saw of +him afterwards, and we came to know one another pretty well, I think I +can. If ever there was a redskin to be trusted it's he. Besides, he's +one of some authority in the tribe--a sort of sub-chief." + +"I know another," breaks in Ludwig, as if suddenly recollecting; "one +who'd help us too--if we could only have a word with him. That's +Nacena's brother, Kaolin." + +Cypriano casts at his cousin a glance of peculiar meaning--something +like surprise. Not because the latter has made mention of an Indian +girl and her brother, both known to himself; but his giving the girl's +name first, as though she were uppermost in his thoughts. And she is; +though that is a secret the young naturalist has hitherto kept close +locked within his own breast. + +Without noticing the glance of scrutiny bent upon him, he proceeds to +explain himself. + +"You may remember, Kaolin and I were the best of friends. He often went +fishing with me, or rather I went with him. And I'm sure he'd stand by +me now, in spite of Aguara." + +"So much the better," rejoins Caspar. "If my man fail me, we can fall +back upon yours. What I propose doing, then, is this. We must keep +quiet, and of course concealed, all day to-morrow till after sunset. We +can employ ourselves in the preparation of my masquerading costume. +When it comes on twilight, or a little later, I can slip down among +those _toldos_, and go sauntering about, like any other redskin, till I +find my old patient. He being a big fellow, there shouldn't be much +difficulty in doing that. When found I'll make appeal to him, to help +us in getting the _nina_ out of--" he has it on his tongue to say +"Aguara's clutches," but thinking of the effect of such a phrase falling +upon Cypriano's ears, he concludes with the words, "whatever place +they're keeping her in." + +Caspar's scheme thus at length declared, seeming feasible enough--and +indeed the only one which any of them can think of as at all +practicable--the other two signify assent to it; and its execution, or +the attempt, is finally determined upon. + +Going on to discuss the steps next best to be taken, they are +interrupted by the sound of footsteps--some one ascending from below! +The footfall is a light one, but distinct enough for them to tell, that +whoever makes it is continuing on towards them, though yet unseen. As +already said, the causeway is in part overshadowed by the cliff, and +within this shadow keeps the person approaching. For all, on the +footsteps drawing near, there is light enough for them to make out a +figure; the better from its being clad in a drapery of white, loose and +flowing, as though the wearer were a woman. + +And so is she, or, to speak more correctly, a girl; her sex and age +revealed to them, as at a certain point she steps to the off side of the +path, and the moonlight falling upon her, exposes to their view a face +beautiful as youthful. + +Gaspar and Cypriano both recognise the face, but say nothing. Different +Ludwig, who at the first glance got of it, unable to restrain himself, +mechanically mutters the name-- + +"Nacena!" + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY ONE. + +A DISPENSER OF SPELLS. + +Fortunately Ludwig's exclamation has been uttered in a subdued tone of +voice; but lest in his agitation he may speak louder, the gaucho grasps +him by the arm, and cautions silence, enjoining the same on Cypriano. + +For several seconds not another word passes between them, all three +remaining motionless, and silent as sphinxes. + +Meanwhile the Indian girl having come opposite the place where they are +seated, passes onward with cautious step and eyes that interrogate the +ground in front, as if she anticipated seeing some one; like a young +hind that has stolen timidly out of the covert, on hearing the +call-bleat of the stag. + +Soon she is far enough beyond to give them an opportunity of exchanging +speech without her overhearing it; and of this the gaucho avails +himself, whispering-- + +"She's keeping an appointment with her lover, I suppose." + +He little thinks of the painful effect his words have produced upon +Ludwig, as he adds-- + +"We'll do best to let her go on to their place of meeting, which is no +doubt somewhere near. She must return this way, and then we can have +_our_ interview with her. But where's the _amante_! A laggard, to let +the girl be on the ground before him! That wasn't my way, when--See! +she's coming to a stop." + +And to a stop she comes, just where the sloping path passes out at the +upper end of the defile, entering among the scaffolds. There standing +erect, she glances inquiringly around, her gaze ranging along the open +spaces between the structures and the shadows underneath them. + +For a minute or two she remains in this attitude, without changing it, +or making the slightest noise--evidently looking for a form or listening +for a footstep. But neither seeing the one, nor hearing the other, she +at length calls out a name; at first timidly, but after an interval in +bolder tone, "Shebotha!" + +"Not her lover after all!" mutters Gaspar, who remembers the name thus +pronounced, while Ludwig is relieved at hearing it, he also knowing +something of the sorceress. + +"Only that old hag!" the gaucho goes on; "I wonder now what the young +sprout can be wanting with her, up here and at this hour of the night! +Some mischief between them, I haven't a doubt." + +His conjectures are suddenly brought to a close by a new noise now +reaching their ears; a sort of scraping or shuffling, diversified by +grunts and coughs--all coming up from below. Turning their eyes that +way, they see ascending what appears to be a human figure, but stooped +forward so as more to resemble a creature crawling on all fours. At the +same instant the Indian girl has caught sight of it; and standing poised +on the platform's edge, she silently awaits its approach, knowing the +bent form to be Shebotha's. + +Scrambling on up the steep, at intervals stopping to take breath, while +she intermittently gives out hoarse grunts, the hag passes by them, at +length reaching the spot where the girl stands awaiting her. Stopping +by the side of the latter, both are now seen face to face in the full +moonlight; and never did moon shine upon faces or figures more +contrasting. On the one side age indicated by a spare body, thin skinny +arms, features furrowed with wrinkles, of most repulsive aspect, and +eyes sparkling with a sinister light; on the other, youth, with all its +witching charms, a figure lithe and graceful as any palm growing on the +plain below, features of classic type, and a face exquisitely beautiful, +despite its tint of bronze, the eyes bright with the glow of a burning +passion. For it is this last that has brought the girl thither. + +Only a second or two do they remain silent, till the sorceress recovers +breath; for it is she who breaks the silence, saying:-- + +"Nacena wants to speak with Shebotha? On what subject?" + +"Need I tell you, Shebotha; you know!" + +"I know that the sister of Kaolin is in love with our young _cacique_. +That is no secret to others, any more than to me." + +"Oh! do not say that! I thought no one knew of it but--" + +"But everybody," interrupts the unfeeling hag. "And what if they do? +Nacena is beautiful, the belle of our tribe, and need fear no rival; not +even her with the eyes of blue, and the tresses of gold, who sleeps +under Shebotha's roof. Nacena is jealous of the paleface captive; she +has no cause." + +"O, good Shebotha!" cries the young girl, in passionate tone, her heart +heaving with rekindled hope, "can you assure me of that? If so, you +shall have all I can give you; my armlets, neck ornaments, _mantas, +hamacas_, everything. Fear not my rewarding you well!" + +"Nacena is generous," rejoins the sorceress, her eyes sparkling with +pleasure at such a wholesale proffer of chattels. "She shall have that +assurance; for Shebotha can give it without fail. See this!" + +While speaking, she has drawn out, from under the skin robe that covers +her bony breast, what appears to be a small horn, converted into a phial +with bottom and stopper. + +"In this," she says, holding it up to the light, "is a fluid, one drop +of which, given to Aguara will turn his heart whichever way Shebotha +wishes it turned; make him love whomsoever she wants him to love; and +that will be as Nacena wants it." + +"Oh! it is good of you, Mam Shebotha so good! How shall I ever enough +thank or reward you?" + +"No matter about thanks," responds the hag with a knowing leer; +"Shebotha likes better the reward. And what you've promised will +content her. But promises, as Nacena herself knows, are sometimes badly +kept, and should have something to secure them, by way of earnest. What +can you give me now?" + +The girl glances down to her breast, upon which lie several pendants, +sustained by a massive chain of gold passing around her neck. Then she +holds out her arms to show bracelets upon the wrists, beset with pearls +and precious stones, that no doubt once clasped other wrists than hers-- +those of palefaced _doncellas_ dwelling in Santiago or Salta. +Unclasping the armlets, one after another, she delivers them to +Shebotha. + +But the avaricious beldame is not yet satisfied. With her eyes upon the +chain necklet and its glittering attachments, she nods towards it, as +much as to say, "That too." And it, also, is detached; and handed over +to her. Then her greedy eyes go to the fillet around the girl's +temples, and an embroidered belt which encircles her waist. But these, +though pretty ornaments, are not of great intrinsic value; and as +Shebotha has in view a further levy of blackmail at a future time, she +can then take them too. + +For the present she appears content, all the more as she gloats over the +treasure, which for a while she feasts her eyes upon without speaking. +Then slipping the various articles, one after another, into the bosom of +her dress, she resumes speech, saying-- + +"Shebotha has other spells besides that spoken of; one powerful above +all, which puts to sleep--ah! a sleep from which the sleeper never +awakes. If the other should fail to act, and Aguara--" + +"But you said it could not fail," breaks in the girl, her countenance +again clouding over. "Is there a doubt, Mam Shebotha?" + +"There's always uncertainty in these things," rejoins the sorceress; +"and in the _love-spell_ more than any other. As you know, love is the +strongest passion, and therefore the most difficult to control." + +All this, by way of making safe her bargain, for well knows she her +spell will not bring back Aguara's love, lost to Nacena; and as the bulk +of the reward promised will depend upon this, she has yet another +proposal to make that may ensure its payment. She acts as one who would +hedge a bet, and drawing closer to the victim of her delusion, she +says-- + +"If Nacena should ever want the paleface put to sleep by that other +spell, Shebotha will administer it." + +As the fiendish suggestion is spoken in a whisper, the three listeners +do not hear what it is. They can only guess by the behaviour of the +young girl that some offer has been made which she indignantly rejects. +This can be told by her rejoinder, and the air in which she delivers it. + +"No!" she exclaims, starting back with an expression of horror upon her +countenance. "Never, never! If Aguara be untrue to me, it is no fault +of the paleface. I know that; and have no vengeance for her. But for +him--ah! if he have deceived me, it is not she, but he should suffer +punishment. And punished he shall be--by my brother." + +"Oh! your brother!" returns the sorceress with a sneer, evidently in +anger at having her offer so rejected. "If Kaolin can right your +wrongs, let him." And she adds, making to move off, "I suppose you +haven't any more need for me, or my services." + +"If she haven't I have," cries Gaspar, springing out from the place of +concealment and seizing hold of the hag, while at the same instant +Cypriano flings his arms around the Indian girl. + +"Come, Mam Shebotha!" continues the gaucho, "it's my turn to have a talk +with you." + +She makes an effort to escape, and would cry out; but cannot, with his +sinewy fingers around her throat. + +"Stop your struggling!" he commands, giving her a shake till her old +bones crackle at every joint. "A cry, a word from you above a whisper, +and I'll close your windpipe so that you'll never grunt through it +again. Come, _muchachos_! Let's to the other side! One of you bring +on the girl. _Vamos_!" + +Raising the hag in his arms he bears her off, with no more care for her +comfort than if she were a trapped wolf. Nacena is borne more tenderly +in Ludwig's arms, into which she has been transferred, by a sort of +tacit understanding between him and his cousin--the latter walking +alongside. No threat hears the girl, nor needs it to enforce silence. +For she is no more apprehensive of injury, now knowing him who carries +her as her brother's old playfellow. Above all, does she feel +reassured, on hearing whispered in her ear-- + +"Have no fear, Nacena! Am not I the bosom friend of your brother? _I +will not deceive you_." + +Does she note the earnestness of his words, and the significant emphasis +given to those last pronounced? Whether or not, she refrains making +rejoinder: but suffers herself to be borne on through the scaffold tombs +without resistance, and silent as the forms reposing upon them. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY TWO. + +A FRIEND UNEXPECTED. + +Straight across the cemetery goes Gaspar, with Shebotha in his arms, nor +stops he till back on the spot where the path leads down to the outer +plain. Arriving there, he deposits his living burden upon the earth; +not gently, but dumping her down with a rude violence, as though it were +a bunch of faggots. Still he does not let her out of his arms +altogether; but with a threat, once more warning her to be silent, +retains fast hold of her, till Cypriano has brought him a _lazo_ from +the saddle of one of the horses near by. Looping this round the body of +the sorceress, and taking a few turns of it about her arms and ankles, +he spreads his poncho over her head, then knots the rope around her +neck, and so muffles her beyond the chance of either hearing or making +herself heard. All this done, he again raises her from the ground, and +carrying her some distance back among the scaffolds, he binds her to a +corner post of one with the end of the _lazo_ yet unused. His purpose +in thus disposing of her is not clear to his companions, both of whom he +has left in charge of the Indian girl; who, on her part, makes no +attempt to escape. Instead, released from Ludwig's arms, she stands +silently by his side, neither trembling nor showing sign of fear. Why +should she, with those words of friendly assurance which have been once +more whispered in her ear? + +And now Gaspar getting back to where they stand, and speaking in the +Tovas tongue sufficiently well to be understood by her, says to Nacena-- + +"_Muchacha mia_! you see who we are, and know all three of us. We know +you, Nacena--even to your tenderest secret; which has been revealed to +us in the dialogue just held between yourself and Mam Shebotha. Every +word of that we've heard, with the lies she's been telling you. And let +me tell you, that of all the wicked impostor's promises, there's but one +she could have kept--that to rid you of her you deem a rival. And she +could only have done that by doing murder; which was what she meant by +her sleeping draught." + +The young girl shudders listening to what she knows is but the truth. + +"'Twas good of you to reject the foul proposal," goes on the gaucho, +"and indignantly, as we know you did. We saw and heard it all. And +now, I have a proposal to offer, which you won't reject; I'm sure you +won't, Nacena." + +She makes no rejoinder, but stands waiting to receive it. + +"It is," he continues, "that you can still rid yourself of that rival, +not by doing wrong, but right and justice. With your help we shall take +her away to a place where Aguara will never more set eyes upon her. But +as I've said, we stand in need of your assistance, and you must give +it." + +"You will, you will!" interposes Cypriano, in tones of earnest appeal. + +"Yes, dear Nacena," follows Ludwig, in tenderer tones; "I'm sure you +will. Remember, she is my sister, and that you yourself have a +brother!" + +Had they but known it, there was no need for all this petitioning. Even +while Gaspar was speaking, and long before he had finished, the Indian +girl, with the quick, subtle instinct of her race, divined what they +were aiming at--the very end she herself desires, and might have +proposed to them. The same instinct, however, prompts her to feign +ignorance of it, as evinced by her interrogative rejoinder:-- + +"How can Nacena assist you? In what way?" + +"By helping us to get the paleface out of her prison." It is Gaspar who +speaks. "She is imprisoned, is she not?" + +"She is." + +"And where is she kept?" further questions the gaucho. + +Cypriano trembles as he listens for the answer. He fears, half +expecting it to be, "In the _toldo_ of the _cacique_." + +It is a relief to him, when Nacena, pointing towards the dark object +bound to the scaffold-post, says: "She has charge of the paleface +captive." + +"_Bueno_!" ejaculates Gaspar with delight in his eyes, as in those of +Cypriano. "Nothing could be better than that. And now that we have +Shebotha here, no one will be guarding the prisoner--will there?" + +"Alas, yes!" responds the Indian girl, her words with their tone telling +that she has entered into the spirit of their enterprise. + +"Who?" interrogates Gaspar. "What is he--if it be a man?" + +"Yes, a man. A white man, like yourselves; one who has been long with +our tribe--a captive taken many years ago from some of the countries +south. He is Shebotha's own slave, and watches over the paleface when +she is out of the _toldo_." + +Again the gaucho ejaculates, "_Bueno_!" adding, in _sotto voce_, to his +two companions, "It seems better still; a bit of rare good luck; that +is, if this white man, whoever he be, isn't grown Indianised, as I've +known some to be." Then to the girl. "Shebotha's slave, you say? In +that case, he should be wanting to regain his liberty, and we may give +him the chance. If need be, we can take him along, too. You +understand, Nacena?" + +"I do." + +"Then you agree to assist us?" + +"Say yes!" urges Cypriano. + +"_My_ sister, Nacena!" adds Ludwig. + +In response to their united appeals, she points to the sorceress, +saying-- + +"Her vengeance is to be dreaded. If I do as you wish me, Shebotha--" + +"Won't hurt a hair of your head," says Gaspar, interrupting. "Nor +can't. She'll not be near enough to do you any injury. That worthy +woman is on the eve of a long journey, to be made in our company, if you +agree to assist us in getting the paleface away. You do agree to it, +_amiga mia_?" + +The girl fully comprehending, and relieved at the thought of the dreaded +sorceress being taken out of the way, at length not only signifies +assent to their scheme, but embraces it with alacrity. Its success will +be to her advantage as theirs, ridding her of that rival feared, and it +may be, restoring to her the affections of him on whom she has fixed her +own. + +And now that confidence is established between her and her captors, she +gives them a full account of how things stand in the _tolderia_, and the +place where the captive is confined. Having heard which, Gaspar +counsels her how to act, as a last word, saying-- + +"Tell this white man, who has charge of the _nina_, he need no longer be +a prisoner himself, nor Shebotha's slave. Say to him, that men of his +own race and colour are near, ready to rescue and take him back to his +people, wherever they may be. Surely that will be enough to gain him to +our side, and get his help also." + +Nacena hesitates for a time; then answering, says-- + +"No, not enough, I fear." + +"But why?" + +"The white man is not in his senses. He has lost them long ago. The +little left him is given to Shebotha. He fears her, as all our people +do; but he more than any. She has surely left him with commands to keep +a close watch. He does not disobey her; and it may be impossible for me +to speak with the paleface, much more get her away from him." + +"_Caspita_!" exclaims Gaspar, his countenance again turning grave. +"There will be a difficulty there, I see it; if the man's crazed, as you +say he is, Nacena. You think he won't let you speak with the prisoner, +unless you have permission from Shebotha?" + +"He will not--I am sure he will not." + +"In that case all may be idle, and our scheme go for nought. _Por +Dios_! what's to be done?" + +Pressing his head between his hands, the gaucho stands considering, +while the other three in silence await the result. His deliberation is +not for long; a bright idea has flashed across his brain, and with his +countenance also recovering brightness, he exclaims-- + +"_Gracios a Dios_! I know how it can be managed; I think I know." + +Ludwig and Cypriano have it on their tongues to inquire what he means. +But before either can say a word, he is off and away in a rush toward +the scaffold-post to which Shebotha is tied. + +Reaching it, he is seen with arms outstretched and in rapid play, as +though he were setting her free. Far from that, however, is his +intention. He but undoes the knot around her neck, and raising the +poncho, clutches at something which encircles her throat. He had +noticed this something while throttling her when first caught; it had +rattled between his fingers as the beads of a rosary, and he knew it to +be such, with a slight difference--the beads being human teeth! A +remembrance, moreover, admonishes him that this ghastly necklace was +worn by the sorceress, not for adornment, but to inspire dread. It is, +in fact, one of her weapons of weird mystery and power, and an idea has +occurred to him that it may now be used as an instrument against +herself. + +Having detached it from her neck, and replaced the poncho upon her head, +he returns to where he had left the others, and holding out the string +of teeth, says to Nacena-- + +"Take this. Present it to the crazy paleface; tell him Shebotha sent it +as a token authorising you to act for her; and, if he be not altogether +out of his wits, I warrant it'll get you admission to the presence of +the paleface. For anything beyond, you will best know how to act of +yourself." + +The girl grasps the hideous symbol, a gleam of intelligence lighting up +her swarth but beautiful face. For she, too, anticipates the effect it +will have on Shebotha's slave, from actual knowledge--not by guessing, +as with Gaspar. + +Knowing herself now at liberty and free to depart, without saying +another word, she turns her back upon them; and gliding away with the +agile, stealthy step peculiar to her race, soon passes beyond their +sight. + +They stand looking after her, till her dark figure disappears amid the +shadows of the scaffolds. But they have no doubt of her fidelity--no +fear that she will fail to do what she can for the fulfilment of her +promise. The keeping it is secured by her own interested motives: for +the passion impelling her to act on their behalf, though purely selfish, +can be trusted as truth itself. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY THREE. + +A DELUDED JAILER. + +Midnight's hour is past, the moon has gone down, and in the Indian town +there is darkness and silence. Every one is asleep, or seems to be; +since no light shines either in _toldo_ or tent, neither can a human +figure be seen in the streets, or anywhere around. + +At some distance from the houses, however, among thickly-standing trees, +and close into the base of the hill, is the quaint dwelling-place of +Shebotha--half cave, half hut--and inside this flickers a faint light, +from a dip candle of crude beeswax, with a wick of the fibre of the +_pita_ plant. By its red flame, mingled with much smoke, a collection +of curious objects is dimly discernible; not articles of furniture, for +these are few, but things appertaining to the craft in which Shebotha is +supposed to have skill--demonology. There are the bones and skins of +monkeys, with those of snakes, lizards, and other reptiles; teeth of the +alligator and jaguar; the proboscis-like snouts of the _tapir_ and +_tamanoir_, or great ant-bear, with a variety of other like oddities, +furnished by the indigenous creatures of the Chaco in every department +of the zoological world--birds, quadrupeds, insects, reptiles, and +fishes. + +This motley conglomeration is for the most part arranged against the +inner wall of the hut, and opposite the entrance, so as to be observable +by any one looking in at the door, or even passing by it. For its +purpose is to impress the superstitious victims of Shebotha's craft with +a belief in her witching ways. And to give this a more terrifying and +supernatural character, a human skull, representing a death's head, with +a pair of tibia for crossbones underneath, is fixed centrally and +prominently against the wall. + +The same light that so faintly illuminates this paraphernalia of +repulsive objects, also shines upon one that is pleasing--this the +figure of a young girl, with a face wonderfully fair. For she is +Francesca Halberger. + +At the hour spoken of she is the sole occupant of the hut; its owner, +Shebotha, being abroad. For it is the self-same hour and instant when +the sorceress has the rosary of teeth snatched so rudely from her neck. +She is seated on the edge of a _catre_, or cane bedstead, of the pallet +kind, her head buried in her hands, through the white fingers of which +her long golden tresses fall in rich profusion, scattered over and +mingling with the fur of the great pampas wolf which serves as a sort of +mattress for the bed. + +The candle has burnt down into the socket of its rude stick, but at +intervals flares up, with a crackling, sputtering noise; as it it does +so, showing upon her features that same sad look as when she was being +carried hither, a captive; only that her face is now paler, and the +expression upon it telling of a despair deeper and more settled. She +has slept but little from the day of her entrance under Shebotha's roof, +and no great deal since she last lay on her own bed at home. What sleep +she now gets is only in short snatches; when tired nature can no longer +continue the struggle with thoughts all the while torturing her. No +wonder at sweet slumber being thus long denied her, with such memories +to keep her awake! In fancy, ever before her seems the face of her +father with that look of agony she last saw upon it, as he lay upon the +ground, weltering in his gore. And in fancy also, she beholds the +ruffian, Valdez, standing above the prostrate form, waving over it his +blood-stained spear, a very demon exultant! + +But her painful thoughts are not all of the past. She has doubts and +fears also for the future, dark as she reflects on her own situation, +and what will be done to her; but still darker when she thinks of those +left behind and far away. What will become of her dear mother and +brother? What of him--dear, ah! perhaps dearer than either--her +handsome cousin? For Cypriano's affection for her is fully +reciprocated. + +Not strange then the sadness overspreading her features, nor the weight +of woe in her heart; as she dwells on the fate that may be his and +theirs. For she knows they are all in danger--great and certain danger; +has known it ever since seeing Valdez, the _vaqueano_, consorting with +the Tovas Indians, and on friendly terms with their chief. Oft had she +asked herself the question whither he went afterwards! Did he return to +Paraguay, or go direct to the _estancia_, there to complete his +diabolical work--begun by murder, to end in the same with other crimes? +In any case he would not likely leave them unharmed, as the captive girl +too truly apprehends. + +With such terrible thoughts to agitate her breast, no wonder she should +be awake while everyone around seems slumbering. But on this night, and +at this hour, something besides hinders her from seeking repose; that +being the absence of Shebotha, which, for certain reasons, makes her +more than ordinarily apprehensive. In truth, she is greatly alarmed by +it. Never before has the sorceress been out of her _toldo_ to stay for +any continued time; above all, never during the hours of night. Why +should she be absent now, and so long? + +While asking herself these questions, the captive has not the slightest +intention to take advantage of Shebotha's absence, and make trial to +escape. Well knows she that would be idle, and she could not get away +if she tried. For though the owner of the hut is off watch, there is +one on it--a man sitting, or squatted, just outside the door. No red +man, but one with a white skin; himself a prisoner, and who possibly +once, as she, felt distressed by his captivity. It may have been this +very feeling which has made him what he now is--a witless idiot, +resigned to his fate. In any case, he seems to be contented as +Shebotha's slave; and, perhaps ignorant of there being any better, +serves her with a fidelity worthy of a better mistress. No watch-dog at +that _toldo's_ door were more to be trusted than he. + +She inside has no intention, nor ever had, of tempting him to be untrue +to his trust. Even could he be induced to let her pass out, what +purpose would it serve? She could not make her way home; and he is not +the sort of man to see her safe through more than two hundred miles of +wilderness. The idea is too hopeless to be entertained, and she does +not for an instant entertain it. + +The thoughts that now occupy her mind are not of how she may escape from +her captivity, but dwelling upon a theme altogether different. She is +thinking who will be the next one to darken the door of the hut; fearing +it may be neither Shebotha herself, nor yet her slave, but the man who +is master of both--Aguara! + +True, the young _cacique_ has not as yet offered her either outrage or +insult; instead still approaches her with courtesy, and a pretence of +friendship. For all, something--it may be instinct--admonishes her that +he is acting under a mask, which he may at any moment cast aside, +revealing the monster, as she believes him to be. And with sufficient +reason, recalling that tragedy which deprived her of a father; and sure, +despite all his protestations, that Aguara played a willing part in it. + +While thus apprehensively reflecting, she hears footsteps, as of some +one approaching the place. The sound causes her to start to her feet, +and stand listening, with a heightened expression of fear upon her face. +For, although the footfall is distant, and only distinguishable as such +by the rustle it makes among the dead leaves, she can tell it is not +that of Shebotha, with whose halting gait and shuffling step her ear has +grown familiar. Whose, then? Who would be coming to the hut at that +time of night--now morning--save Shebotha herself? None but she, and +those of her belonging, dare do so either by night or by day? For the +_toldo_ of the sorceress is a sort of sanctuary, tabooed to the people +of the tribe, and no one may enter or approach its sacred precincts, +without having her permission, or being bidden by her. Yes; one may, +and can--Aguara. + +Still darker shows the fear upon the face of the captive girl, as she +thinks of this special privilege accorded to the _cacique_, of which she +has been made aware. It must be he who is drawing near, and with him a +danger she has long vaguely apprehended. + +For some seconds she remains intently listening, her young heart pulsing +audibly within her breast. It beats easier as the footfall draws +nigher, and she can tell it is not that of a man. The tread is too +light and elastic. It cannot be Aguara who approaches. + +She is still surer of its not being he, as the footsteps, having come +close up to the hut, cease to be heard, and in their place a different +sound enters through the open door--a feminine voice speaking in soft, +dulcet tones. + +The speech is not addressed to the captive herself, but to him who +watches outside. After an interchange of ordinary salutation, and an +inquiry by the watcher as to what is wanted--this evidently in tone of +surprise--the soft voice responds, "I want to speak with the little pale +free." + +"You cannot. Shebotha forbids it. No one may enter here without her +permission." + +"But I have more than her permission--her commands. She has sent me +with a message to the paleface. At this moment Mam Shebotha has a +matter elsewhere, and could not come herself." + +"You may be speaking the truth, but how am I to know?" questions the +man, as he regards the intruder with an incredulous stare. "I don't go +so far as to say you are telling a lie. All I say is, that the thing +isn't at all likely. Mam Shebotha's not the sort to trust her affairs +to such a _chiquitita_ as you." + +"You know me, don't you?" + +"Oh, yes; you are Kaolin's sister--her they call the belle of the tribe; +your name's Nacena." + +"It is so; and surely you'll believe me? The sister of Kaolin would not +speak false. You cannot suppose I am deceiving you?" + +"Ah!" he rejoins, with his words heaving a sigh, "it is often those who +are most beautiful who most deceive." + +Possibly the memory of some such deception, an experience of times long +past, has been awakened within him. It embitters his speech as he +continues-- + +"I can't--I won't believe you--though you are Kaolin's sister, and ever +so fair to look upon." + +"But you will, when you look upon this." + +She draws out the string of teeth snatched from the neck of the +sorceress, and holds it up to his eyes, adding-- + +"That I bring from Shebotha herself. She gave it me to show you as a +sign that I have her permission to speak with the paleface--nay, her +command, as I've said. Now!" + +At sight of the hideous symbol, which he instantly recognises, his +incredulity is at an end. For he knows how jealously the sorceress +guards this token, and that no one could have obtained it from her +without some special purpose, or to do a service to herself. What it +may be he questions not, nor longer forbids entrance to the hut, but +nods towards the door, as much as to say-- + +"You can go in." + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR. + +AN UNLOOKED-FOR DELIVERER. + +Though the dialogue between Nacena and Shebotha's slave was in the Tovas +tongue, she who has overheard them inside the hut has sufficient +acquaintance with it to make out that the Indian girl is seeking an +interview with herself. But for what purpose, she has not the most +distant idea, and cannot conceive why it should specially be sought at +that strange hour, when everybody else is abed. She knows Nacena by +name, as by sight; having on many occasions seen her at the old +_tolderia_. But the two have never had acquaintance, nor held +conversation; the sister of Kaolin always seeming shy with her, and +never visiting the _estancia_, as did the other girls of the tribe. +More than this, she remembers that whenever of late she by chance met +the savage maiden, she had observed a scowl upon the latter's face, +which she could not help fancying was meant for herself. Nor had her +fancy been astray; since in reality for her was that black look. Though +for what reason Francesca could not tell, having never that she could +think of done aught that should give offence to Kaolin's sister. +Besides, was not Kaolin himself the bosom friend of her brother Ludwig? +Still, recalling that scowl so often seen upon Nacena's countenance-- +with a suspicion, purely intuitive, of what may have caused it--not +strange she should deem the visit of the Indian girl boding no good to +her, but instead something of ill. + +As the latter steps inside the _toldo_, however, and the light falls +upon her face, the captive can there see no sign of malice, nor token of +hostility. Instead, it is lit up by a smile which seems rather to speak +of friendship and protection. And, in truth, such are among the +sentiments now moving the Indian girl to action. At the prospect of +being for ever rid of a rival she sees so helpless, the feeling of +jealousy has passed away out of her heart, as its frown from her face, +and she approaches the captive with the air of one who has both the wish +and the power to give liberty. She is the first to speak, asking +abruptly-- + +"Do you wish to be free?" + +"Why do you ask that?" is the interrogative rejoinder, in a tone +distrustful. For that smile may be but to deceive. + +"Because Nacena has it in her power to give you freedom if you desire +it." + +"Desire it!" exclaims the captive. "Nacena is but mocking me," she +adds, involuntarily falling into the figurative mode of speech peculiar +to the American Indian. "Indeed, I do desire it. But how could Nacena +set me at liberty?" + +"By taking the paleface to her people." + +"They are far away--hundreds of miles. Would Nacena herself take me to +them?" + +"No. That is not needed. The paleface is mistaken. Her friends are +not far away, but near. They wait for her to come out to them." + +The captive gives a start of surprise, the light of hope and joy, long +absent from her eyes, rekindling in them, as another light breaks upon +her. + +"Of whom does Nacena speak?" + +"Of your brother the fair-haired youth, your cousin the dark Paraguayan, +and the gaucho who has guided them hither. All three are close to the +_tolderia_, on the other side of the hill--as I've said, expecting you. +Nacena has spoken with them, and promised she will conduct you to where +they are. White sister!" she adds, in a tone of unmistakeable +sincerity, at the same time drawing closer to the captive, and tenderly +taking her by the hand, "do not show distrust, but let Nacena keep her +word. She will restore you to your friends, your brother; ah! to one +who waits for you with anxiety keener than all!" + +At the last words the captive bends upon her would-be deliverer a +bewildered, wondering look. Is it possible Nacena has knowledge of her +tenderest secret? It must be so; but how can she have learnt it? +Surely Cypriano--whom she says she has seen outside and spoken with-- +surely, he could not have revealed it; would not! Francesca forgets +that the Indian girl was for years a near neighbour to her father's +_estancia_; and though never visiting there, with the keen intuition of +her race was like enough to have learnt, that the relationship between +her cousin and herself had something in it beyond mere cousinly +affection. + +While she is still cogitating as to how Nacena could have come to this +knowledge, and wondering the while, the latter bleaks in upon her +wonderment, and once more urges her to flight, again speaking of him who +is near and dear, so anxiously expecting her. + +It needs not such pressing appeal. For the captive girl, her surprise +once past, is but too willing to embrace the opportunity so unexpectedly +offered, and by one so unlikely to offer it. Therefore, without further +hesitation, she signifies acceptance, saying, "I will trust you, Nacena. +You have called me your white sister, and I believe you sincere. You +would not speak so if you meant me harm. Take me where you will; I am +ready to go with you." + +Saying which, she holds out her hand, as if offering to be led. + +The Indian girl taking it, turns her face for the door, and is about to +step towards it, when she remembers the watcher without; and obstruction +she had for the time forgotten. Will he bar their exit? A cloud comes +over her brow, as she asks herself the question; for, mentally answering +it, she thinks he most probably will. + +The other observing her hesitation, and quite comprehending it, makes no +inquiry about the cause. That is already declared in the dialogue +lately overheard by her; and as he outside is likely to be listening, +the two now take counsel together, speaking in whispers. + +Nacena, from a better knowledge of the situation, is of course the chief +adviser, and it ends in her determining to show a bold front, and pass +out as if already armed with Shebotha's permission. If interrupted, +they can then make a rush for it. In short, after a hurried +consultation, they can think of no other way, much less a better one. +For by the shuffling of footsteps, and a wheezing noise--Shebotha's +slave being afflicted with asthma--they can tell that he is close by the +entrance. + +Soon as resolved how to act, the Indian girl, still holding the captive +by the hand, leads her on to the door; and, passing over the threshold +side by side, they present themselves to the sentry, Nacena saying: + +"In going in I forgot to tell you my errand from Mam Shebotha. She bade +me bring the paleface to where she is herself. You see, I am taking +her." + +"You cannot take her out of the _toldo_," rejoins the man in a tone of +dogged denial. "You must not; Shebotha would kill me if I permitted +it." + +"But I have Shebotha's command to do so." + +"How am I to know that?" + +"You forget what I have said, and what I've given you." + +She points to the strange rosary, which he had taken from her, and still +retains--possibly as a voucher against any mistake that may arise. + +"No, I don't," he rejoins, holding the string up before her eyes, and +shaking it till the teeth rattle. "There it is; but withal, I can't +allow her, the paleface, to go with you. It might be as much as my life +is worth." + +"But what is your life worth without liberty?" + +It is not Nacena who puts this question, but the paleface herself; +speaking to him in her native tongue, as his. He gives a sudden start +on hearing it, and regards the young girl with a stare of astonishment, +rubbing his eyes as though just awakened from a long-continued sleep. + +"Ah--eh!" he exclaims, excitedly. "What's that? Liberty, did you say? +Liberty? Mine's gone long ago. I'm but a poor slave--Shebotha's slave. +I can never be free again; no, _never_!" + +"You may be free now--this very moment--if you wish it." + +"If I wish it! Ha, ha, ha! That's a good joke! If I wish it! Only +show me the way, and let Mam Shebotha go to--" + +"Never mind Mam Shebotha. Listen to me, who am of the same race and +people as yourself. There are some of them now near, who have come to +take me home to my friends. You must have friends too, whom you left +long ago. Why should you not go back to them?" + +"_Carramba_!" he cries out, as if the sound of his native tongue had +brought back to remembrance one of its most common exclamations, and +along with it a desire to return to the place where he last heard it +spoken. "Why should I not? If you say you'll take me, I will." + +"Ah! I'll not only take you, but be glad of your company. _Nos +vamos_!" + +It is still Francesca who speaks, and at the last words, pronounced in a +tone of half encouragement, half command, she stretches out her hand, +and taking hold of that of her late jailer, leads him off, as a rough +pampas colt just tamed and gentled. + +Nacena, astonished at the spirit shown by the little paleface, and +delighted with a success which may prove advantageous to herself, says +not a word; but steps off forward in front of the other two--making mute +pantomimic signs to guide them in the direction they are to go. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE. + +AN UNLUCKY TUMBLE. + +Soon as Nacena had started on return to the town, the gaucho and his +companions commence making preparations to descend from the hill. Not +by the road leading down to the _tolderia_, but the path by which they +came up. For before her parting with them the Indian girl and Gaspar +had held further speech; she imparting to him additional information of +how things stood in the tribe; he, in turn, giving her more detailed +instructions how to act, in the event of her being able to obtain an +interview with the paleface captive, and to get her off from the place +where confined. In the programme arranged between them, the final part +to be played by Nacena would be her conducting her charge round to the +other side of the hill, where the rescuers would be in waiting to +receive her. Delivered to them, the action of the Indian girl would be +at end, so far as that affair was concerned, while theirs had yet to be +considered. + +The place where they were to await her was, of course, mutually +understood--by the entrance to the uphill path, under the great _ceiba_ +tree. Nacena knew it well, having oft traversed that path, reclined in +the shadow of the tree, and played under it from the earliest days of +childhood. For it was a pretty spot, much-frequented by the younger +members of the community when out for promenade on the plain, or nutting +among the palm-groves that studded it. A sort of rendezvous, or +stopping place, from the two routes to the town here diverging; the +shorter, though by far the more difficult, being that over the Cemetery +Hill. Of the roundabout one, Gaspar, of course, had no knowledge. But +he knew the _ceiba_, and the way back to it, all that they needed. The +girl had trodden both, hundreds of times, and was acquainted with their +every reach and turning. She would come anyhow, and no fear of her not +finding the way; their only fear was of her coming unaccompanied. + +Least of all has Ludwig this apprehension; instead, full confidence that +the Indian will will bring Francesca back with her. Strange this; but +stranger still, that, while overjoyed with the thought of his sister +being delivered from captivity, his joy should have a tinge of sadness +in it, like a mingling of shadow and sun. This due to his suspicion of +the motives actuating her who has promised to be his sister's deliverer. +Nacena is not their friend for mere friendship's sake; nor his, because +of the former fellowship between him and her own brother. Instead, +jealousy is her incentive, and what she is doing, though it be to their +benefit, is but done for the thwarting of Aguara. + +Though Ludwig has expressed his opinion that they will soon see +Francesca, he is silent about these suspicions. There is no time to +speak of them if he would. For in a few seconds after Nacena's +separating from them, Gaspar gives the signal for action, and all three +become engaged in getting ready their horses for a return to the plain. + +"_Por Dios_!" mutters the gaucho, while slipping on his bridle. "I +don't much fancy remaining longer in this melancholy place. Though high +and airy, it mayn't be wholesome. If, after all, that brown beauty +should change her mind, and play us false, we'd be in a bad predicament +up here--a regular trap, with no chance of retreating from it. So the +sooner we're back to the bottom of the hill, the safer 'twill be. There +we'll at least have some help from the speed of our horses, if in the +end we have to run for it. Let us get below at once!" + +Having by this finished adjusting his bridle, he hands the rein to +Cypriano, adding-- + +"You hold this, senorito, while I go after Shebotha. Botheration take +that old hag! She'll be a bother to us, to say nothing of the extra +weight for our poor horses. After all, she's not very heavy--only a bag +of bones." + +"But, Gaspar; are you in earnest about our taking her along with us?" +asks Cypriano. + +"How are we to help it, _hijo mio_! If we leave her here, she'd be back +in the town before we could get started; that is, if we have the good +luck to get started at all. I needn't point out what would be the +upshot of that. Pursuit, as a matter of course, pell mell, and +immediate. True, we might leave her tied to the post, and muffled as +she is. But then she'd be missed by to-morrow morning, if not sooner, +and they'd be sure to look for her up here. No likelier place for such +as she, among these scaffolds; except tied to a scaffold of another +sort, and in a somewhat different style." + +The gaucho pauses, partly to enjoy his own jest, at which he is +grinning, and partly to consider whether Shebotha can be disposed of in +any other way. + +Cypriano suggests another, asking-- + +"Why couldn't we take her in among these trees, and tie her to one of +them? There's underwood thick enough to conceal her from the eyes of +anyone passing by, and with the muffle over her head, as now, she +couldn't cry out that they'd hear her." + +"'Twould never do," rejoins Gaspar, after an instant of reflection. +"Hide her as we might, they'd find her all the same. These redskins, +half-naked though they are, can glide about among bushes, even thorny +ones, like slippery snakes. So many of them, they'd beat every bit of +thicket within leagues, in less than no time. Besides, you forget their +dogs. Scores they have--ay, hundreds, some of them keen-scented as +beagles. _Carrai_! they'd smell the nasty witch half-a-mile off, and so +discover her whereabouts to their masters." + +"True," returns Cypriano, seeing the plan he has proposed would not do. +"In that way they would find her, no doubt." + +"And if they didn't," interposed Ludwig, speaking from a sentiment of +humanity, "it would be dreadful." + +"Dreadful! what do you mean?" asks Cypriano, looking puzzled. "For them +_not_ to find her is just what we want." + +"Ah, cousin! how would it be for _her_? Tied to a tree, with no hope-- +no chance of getting loosed from it--she'd die of hunger or thirst-- +miserably perish. Wicked as Shebotha is, we'd be worse than she if we +left her to such a fate as that, to say nothing of our bringing it upon +her. Ay, and for doing so we'd deserve the same ourselves, or something +as bad." + +"Well, Senor Ludwig," rejoins the gaucho, with an air of submission +rather than conviction, "you may be right in what you say, and I'm not +the man to deny it. But there need be no difference of opinion on that +point. Leaving Shebotha tied to a tree wouldn't do on any account, for +the reasons I've stated. It might--most likely would, and, as you say, +it ought--end in ourselves getting tied to trees or stakes, with a +bundle of faggots between our legs set to the tune of a slow fire. +But," he adds, after a second or two spent considering, "there's only +one other way I can think of to deal with the witch, if we're not to +take her with us." + +"What's the other?" asks Cypriano, seeing that the gaucho hesitates to +declare it. + +"Why, knock her on the head, or draw the blade of a _cuchilla_ across +her throat, and so stop her grunting at once and for ever. The old +wretch deserves no better fate and hanging's too good for her. But +they'd find her dead body all the same; though not with a tongue in it +to tell who stopped her wind, or, what's of more consequence, how and +which way we went off. Besides, I dare say, the Senor Ludwig wouldn't +agree to our getting disembarrassed of her in that fashion." + +"Oh! no, no!" ejaculates the humane youth, horrified at the thought of +such cruelty, "anything but that, Caspar." + +"Well, there isn't anything but what I propose doing--that is, taking +her along. I'm willing to accommodate her on the croup of my _recado_, +and will show her all the gallantry she deserves. If you're jealous, +Senor Ludwig, you may have her behind you; and as your horse is the +lightest laden, that might be best. When we're crossing back over that +_riacho_ where you left your saddle-bags, if you're tired of riding +double, you can drop her down among the lightning-eels, and let them +play their batteries upon her old bones till every joint of them cracks +asunder." + +Were it not for the gravity of the situation, Gaspar's young companions +would be greatly amused at his quaint rhodomontade. But as both are too +anxious about the future, and in no humour for a jest, Ludwig only +answers with a faint smile; while Cypriano, alone thinking of Francesca, +has somewhat impatiently listened to it. Having hold of the bridle-rein +which the gaucho has handed to him, on the latter ceasing to speak, he +says in urgent tone-- + +"Bring her along, then, good Gaspar; and be quick about it! As you've +said, we should get down to the plain as soon as possible." + +The admonition is not needed, for Gaspar does not waste time over his +jokes, nor allow them to interfere with his action. And while +delivering the last sally, he has been looking to his horse-gear, to see +that his _recade_ is in a proper condition to receive her who is to be +his double. + +Satisfied it will do, he strides off to where Shebotha is tied; and in a +few seconds returns bearing the sorceress in his arms, as though she +were but a bundle of rags. + +Hoisting her up to his horse's withers, and with a stern threat and a +shake, telling her to stay there, he springs upon the saddle behind her. +It would not be their relative positions, then riding double, were they +starting out on a long journey. But it will do for the half-mile or so, +to the bottom of the hill, and for that short distance it seems idle +either to bind her to his own body or to the saddle. So thinks Gaspar; +but in this the gaucho, with all his prudent sagacity, is for once +incautious to a fault. As they are groping their way down the steep +slope, zig-zagging among the tree trunks that stand thickly on both +sides of the path, a troop of ring-tailed monkeys asleep in their tops, +having their slumbers disturbed by the clink-clink of the hoofs against +stones, set up a lugubrious howling. All the three horses are +affrighted by the unearthly noise, but Gaspar's more than any; so much, +that rearing erect upon its hind legs, with the ground so uneven, the +animal loses balance, and stumbles over on its side. + +As the gaucho gathers himself, stunned and somewhat dazed by the fall, +'tis to learn that for that night his riding double is at an end, with +Shebotha sharing the saddle; for the sorceress is no longer to be seen! + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY SIX. + +AN INFURIATED FEMALE. + +There is no mystery about Shebotha's disappearance nor aught out of the +way save in the adroitness with which the aged crone contrived to effect +her escape. Soon as touching the ground, and feeling herself free from +the arms hitherto holding her on horseback, she has darted into the +underwood, and off; not even rising erect to her feet, but on all fours, +and silently as a snake. For although the hillside is so thickly +overgrown with thorny scrub that a pointer would with difficulty quarter +it, the supple old savage worms her way through, without making any more +noise than would a badger just got out of the barrel, and away from the +dogs that have been baiting it. + +In her retreat, she does not proceed for any great distance in a direct +line, nor long continue crawling through the tangle of bushes. She is +acquainted with every inch of that wooded slope, and all the paths +traversing it, even to the tiniest trace of bird or quadruped; and soon +coming into one of these, she at length stands upright. But not to stay +there for any time, only long enough to give a glance to the right and +left, in order that she may assure herself as to which of the two she +had best take. Deciding in an instant, she is off again in crouched +attitude, but with the agility of youth itself. Up the hill she goes, +back towards the Cemetery. And one who saw her ascending before seeing +her now, would with difficulty believe it to be the same person. Then, +however, she was taking it leisurely, with no particular call for haste +nor the taxing of her strength; now there is a motive for her making +speed, with every exertion in her power. Indeed, more than one; for she +is urged by two of the strongest passions that can agitate the human +breast--cupidity and vengeance. While depriving her of her ghastly +necklace, Gaspar had taken the occasion to possess himself of the more +elegant and valuable ornaments stripped from the person of Nacena; not +with any thought to appropriate them to himself, but the intention of +restoring them to their rightful owner, when the latter should re-appear +to claim them. Coming back, and bringing with her the captive, the +Indian girl would well deserve restitution of her trinkets. + +Thwarted in her infernal schemes, stung to fury by their failure, +Shebotha goes panting up the hill; but, despite her hard breathing, +without stopping to take breath. Nor rests she on reaching the summit, +but glides on across the Cemetery, finding her way through the wooden +structures as one who knows every scaffold there, and whose bones are +mouldering upon it. + +It is not from fear of being followed that she is now so hastening her +steps. She knows that they from whom she has escaped will not return +thither. For although hindered from hearing their conversation with +Nacena, and so becoming acquainted with their plans, if not fully +comprehending, she at least surmises them. For, having recognised the +gaucho and his companions--all three of them--what purpose could they +have there other than to release the paleface girl she has in her +charge? And from the fact of their having themselves released Nacena-- +let her go without further detention than would be required to come to +an understanding--she concludes that this has been come to, and the +Indian girl consented to aid them in their intended rescue. But it will +not be successful if she, Shebotha, can prevent it; and desperately bent +on doing so, she rushes on through the scaffolds, and down the road to +the _tolderia_, as if some danger threatened her from behind. + +Arriving by the door of her own hut, she utters an exclamation of +surprise at not there seeing her slave. Still another, after having +called out his name, and received no answer. Her astonishment is +complete and her rage at full height, when, having stepped up to the +threshold of the _toldo_, she sees there is no one inside. The beeswax +dip, burnt low and flickering in the socket, faintly lights up the +hideous objects of her craft and calling; but shows no form of human +being! + +It is only a mechanical act her entering within the hut, and proceeding +on to its inner apartment; for she is quite as sure it, too, will be +found empty--as she finds it. + +Almost instantly returning to the door, she stands gazing out into the +darkness. Were there a light in front, her eyes would be seen to glare +in their sunken sockets with the brightness of fire-balls; while in her +breast is burning the fury of a concentrated vengeance. Once again she +calls out the name of her slave, but as before getting no answer; and +now sure that he, too, has either betrayed her, or been himself +betrayed, she glides silently out of the _toldo_, and off towards that +in which sleeps Aguara. + +Soon she reaches its door, which she finds wide open; for it is within +the tropics, and the night is a warm one. Craning her head inside, and +listening for a second or two, she can tell by his breathing that the +_cacique_ is asleep. A slumber abruptly broken by her calling out-- + +"Son of Naraguana, awake!" + +"Shebotha!" he exclaims, recognising her shrill treble. "What is it?" +he adds, raising his head over the edge of his _hamaca_. + +"Arise, Aguara! and make all haste. Know that there are enemies near, +and treason in your tribe. You've been betrayed, and so has Shebotha!" + +"Betrayed! How?" he asks in wonderment, but without leaving the +hammock. "Who are these enemies you speak of? Who the traitors?" + +"You'll learn that in time, chief. It may be enough for you now to +know, that your paleface captive has escaped." + +"Escaped!" he cries out, bounding down upon the floor, and coming +forward to the entrance. "The paleface escaped, you say? Are you +speaking truth, Mam Shebotha?" + +"Come to my _toldo_, and see for yourself." + +"No, that's not needed, if you say she's gone. Tell me how, when, and +whither. Be quick!" + +In hurried phrase she recounts the incidents which have occurred to her +and Nacena on the Cemetery Hill, adding her conjectures as to what may +have transpired since, and may still be in the act of occurrence. Among +these last are her suspicions, well founded as we know, that Kaolin's +sister has aided the paleface to escape; and that her own slave, who +should have hindered, has not only connived at it, but taken himself +away as well. In short, the cage is empty, and the bird with its keeper +both flown! + +What direction the fugitives have taken, is a question to which the +sorceress can give answer without the need of any doubtful surmise or +conjecture. She knows it as well as if she herself had appointed the +place of rendezvous, given by Gaspar to the Indian girl. For while +riding double with the gaucho, she had heard him speak of it to his +companions; heard, despite the poncho spread over her ears, the word +_ceiba_, with others, which told of their intention to stay by that +tree. + +The _cacique_ knows the noted spot, as well as Nacena herself, he too +having oft played beneath its shade, or climbed up its grand trunk and +disported himself among its branches, when more of a boy than he is now. + +But he reflects not on these past times, so full of innocence and +happiness. Instead, wild with rage, and wretched as he is angry, he +stays not to reflect at all; but hastily, and little better than +half-dressed, he rushes forth from his _toldo_, calling loudly for his +horse. + +Meanwhile, the sorceress has aroused others of the tribe; several of +whom, in obedience to their chief's command, start off for the _corrals_ +to procure the horses necessary for a pursuit of the fugitives. + +Aguara's is on the ground first; and, without waiting for companion or +attendant of any kind, he vaults upon the animal's back, and goes off at +a gallop along the path, which, after turning around close to the hill, +at about a mile's distance, farther on passes the _ceiba_ tree. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN. + +THE CAPTIVE RECAPTURED. + +Impossible to describe the feelings of Caspar, when having recovered his +feet after the tumble out of his _recado_, he finds that Shebotha has +got away from him. It is some consolation to know that neither himself +nor his horse has received serious injury. Still not sufficient to +satisfy him, nor allay the wild exasperation burning within his breast, +which seeks to vent itself in a string of maledictions poured +plenteously from his lips. + +As the hag, however, has surely succeeded in getting off, and it would +be idle to attempt pursuing through the thick scrub, his anathemas +hurled after her are all in vain: and, at thought of this, he soon +ceases to pronounce them. For the reflection quick follows, that he and +his companions have now something else to think about--their own safety, +doubly endangered by Shebotha's escape. + +"_Mil demonios_!" is his last exclaim of the kind, after getting his +horse upright again and himself back into the saddle, "who'd have +believed the old beldame had so much suppleness in her joints? But it's +no joking matter. Only to think of it! Everything looking so bright, +and now Satan's luck once more back upon us--bad, if not worse, than +ever! Well, we mustn't dilly-dally here. If there's still a chance +left us, we'll have to look for it down below, by that big cotton tree." + +Saying which, he again gives the rein to his horse, and continues the +descent of the hill, the others head and tail close after. + +On reaching the said cotton tree, however, Gaspar changes his mind about +that spot being the best for their temporary abiding place. Since its +being arranged as a rendezvous with Nacena, the circumstances have sadly +altered, and, on reflection, he deems it better, as do the others, to +keep on along the road towards the _tolderia_--at least for some little +distance. There can be no harm in that, nor danger of their going +astray. The path is a plain one, much trampled by horses and cattle, +and, notwithstanding the darkness of the night, easily discernible. If +fortune so far favour them, that the captive will be coming that way, +under the guidance of the Indian girl, the sooner these be met the more +chance for all eventually getting safe off, rescuers as rescued. + +So concluding, they make scarce a moment's halt by the _ceiba_; but, +passing under its umbrageous branches, head their horses along the trail +leading to the town. + +At this moment were it daylight, or even a clear moonlight, one placed +upon the brow of the hill fronting south-eastward, and looking down to +the level plain by its base, would behold two separate parties moving +upon it, but in opposite directions, so that, if they continue to +advance, they must meet. One party is mounted, the other afoot; the +former being Gaspar and his two companions, while the latter is also +composed of three individuals--Nacena, Francesca, and Shebotha's slave. +The two girls, going in a half-run, are side by side, and ahead of the +man; who, less free of foot, has fallen behind them to a distance of +some twenty or thirty paces. Nacena, who knows the way, guides the +escaping captive, and has hold of her by the hand. They are now not +more than half-a-mile from the mounted party, coming the opposite way, +and in a few minutes should meet it, if nothing prevent. Already within +hailing distance, they might hear one another's voices; but neither +being aware of this mutual proximity, all advance in silence--the trio +on horseback proceeding at a slow pace for caution's sake, lest the +tread of their animals should betray them. + +But if their own be not heard afar, there are other hoofs making a noise +to disturb the stillness of the night. Just as the Indian girl has +whispered to her paleface _protegee_ some words of cheer, saying that +her friends are now no great way off, she is startled by the hoof-stroke +of a horse, which her practised ear tells her to be ridden; while the +rapid repetition of the sound denotes the animal going in a gallop. + +Suddenly she stops, and listens. Clearer rings the "tramp--tramp," as +nearer the horseman approaches. Coming up behind, from the direction of +the town, who can it be but one in pursuit of them? And if a pursuer, +what other than Aguara? + +Still Nacena is in doubt, and deems it strange. As they stole away from +Shebotha's hut, and through the straggling suburb of the _tolderia_, all +was darkness and silence, everybody seeming asleep. Who or what could +have awakened the _cacique_, and apprised him of the flight of his +captive? + +In asking herself these questions, Kaolin's sister is under the belief, +that the sorceress is herself still a prisoner, in the keeping of that +stalwart and redoubtable gaucho. Hence her surprise at their being +pursued, with the uncertainty that they are so, and the further doubt of +the pursuer being Aguara. + +He it is, notwithstanding; and as yet pursuing alone. For although soon +can be heard the hoof-strokes of other horses than his also following, +these are faint and far-off. He himself hears them; knows it is a party +of his young braves pressing on after, but will not wait for them to +come up. For he hopes to overtake the fugitives, ere they can reach the +place of rendezvous Shebotha has spoken of, and recover his captive +before she can fling herself into the arms of protecting friends. + +In this hope, alas! he is not disappointed. Dashing on through the +darkness along a road with every foot of which both he and his horse are +familiar, he first comes up with the half-witted creature lagging +behind, soon as beside him putting the question-- + +"Where is the paleface, your prisoner?" + +The man, frightened at seeing it is the _cacique_, in his confusion +hesitates to make reply. But Aguara does not wait for it. He hears +voices ahead--soft and sweet, though raised in tones of alarm--and knows +she must be there. Giving his horse's head a wrench, so as to shave +close past the delinquent jailer, he raises his _macana_, and dealing a +downward blow, strikes the latter to the earth: then hastens on after +the others. + +Nacena now knows for certain that they are pursued, as also who is the +pursuer. She has heard the question asked by Aguara, recognising his +voice; heard also the dull thud of his club as it descended on the skull +of the unfortunate man; and now again hears the trampling of hoofs +renewed and drawing nearer. She has still hold of Francesca's hand, and +for a moment debates within herself what is best to be done, and whether +she should not release it, and turning show front to the pursuer. + +Too late for that, or aught else likely to be of service either to +herself or _protegee_. Before any resolve reaches her the _cacique_, is +by their side; and flinging himself from his horse, grasps both by the +wrists, wrenching asunder their joined hands. Then turning upon the +Indian girl with a cry of rage--a curse in the Tovas tongue--he strikes +her with his shut fist, inflicting a blow which sends her reeling to the +earth. Before she can regain her feet he is once more upon his horse, +and heading back for the _tolderia_--his recovered captive in his arms! + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT. + +VA CON DIOS. + +In a rush Aguara goes, fast as his animal can be urged by heel and +voice. For, while so roughly separating the two girls, these had +shouted in alarm, and his ear had caught other cries raised at a +distance, and as if responsive. Now he hears them again; men's voices, +and mingling with them the trampling of hoofs--clearly several horses +coming on in a gallop. She, he has in his arms, hears them too, but +listens not in silence or unresisting. Instead, she struggles and +shrieks, calling "Help, help!" with the names "Ludwig, Cypriano, +Gaspar!" + +She is heard by all three; for it is they who responded to the cries of +herself and Nacena, knowing who gave utterance to them. Near they are +now, and riding as in a race; they, too, pressing their horses to utmost +speed. But the darkness is against them, as their ignorance of the +ground, with which the man pursued is familiar. By this, at every step, +they are obstructed; and but for the screams of Francesca, still +continued, might as well abandon the chase for any chance they have of +overtaking him. + +And overtake him they never would, nor could, were fortune not in their +favour. An accident it may appear; at the same time seeming a divine +retribution for wrong--a very Nemesis in the path of the wicked Aguara. +On returning past the spot where he had struck down Shebotha's slave, he +sees the unfortunate man stretched along the ground, and, to all +appearance, still insensible. Nought cares he for that, but his horse +does; and, at sight of the prostrate form, the animal, with a snort of +affright, shies to one side, and strikes off in a new direction. Going +at so swift a pace, and in such a dim light, in a few bounds it enters +among some bushes, where it is brought up standing. Before its rider +can extricate it, a strong hand has hold of it by the head, with a thumb +inserted into its nostrils, while the fingers of another are clutching +at his own throat. The hand on the horse's muzzle is that of Caspar the +gaucho, the fingers that grope to get a gripe on the rider's neck being +those of Cypriano. + +It is a crisis in the life of the young Tovas _cacique_, threatening +either death or captivity. But subtle as all Indians are, and base as +any common fellow of his tribe, instead of showing a bold front, he +eludes both, by letting go the captive girl, himself slipping to the +ground, and, snake like, gliding off among the bushes. + +On the other side of his horse, which he has also abandoned, Francesca +falls into the arms of her brother, who embraces her with wild delight. +Though not wilder, nor half so thrilling, as that which enraptures the +ear of Cypriano--to whose arms she is on the instant after transferred. + +But it is not a time for embraces, however affectionate, nor words to be +wasted in congratulation. So Gaspar tells them, while urging instant +departure from that perilous spot. + +"Our lucky star's gone up again," he says, with a significant nod to +Aguara's horse, which he has still hold of. "There is now four of us; +and as I take it this brisk little _musteno_ is fairly our property, +there'll be no need for any of us riding double--to say nothing of one +having a witch behind his back. Without such incumbrance, it'll be so +much the better for the saving of time; which at this present moment +presses, with not the hundredth part of a second to spare. So _hijos +mios_, and you, _hija mia querida_, let us mount and be off!" + +While the gaucho is yet thus jocularly delivering himself, Cypriano has +lifted his cousin, Francesca, to the back of the _cacique's_ abandoned +steed; on which he well knows she can keep her seat, were it the wildest +that ever careered across _campo_. Then he remounts his own, the other +two taking to their saddles at the same time. + +A word about the route, and all four start together; not to go back +along the trail towards the _ceiba_ tree, but striking straight out for +the open plain, in a direction which Gaspar conjectures to be the right +one. + +They would willingly diverge from it to ascertain whether the poor +creature clubbed by Aguara be dead or still living; and, if the latter, +take him along. But Gaspar urges the danger of delay; above all, being +burdened with a man not only witless, but now in all likelihood disabled +by a wound which would make the transporting him an absolute +impossibility. + +Ludwig and his sister are more desirous to turn aside, and learn how it +is with Nacena. But again the gaucho, no: greatly given to sentiment, +objects. Luckily, as if to relieve them from all anxiety, just then +they hear a voice, which all recognise as that of the Tovas belle, +calling out in tolerably pure Castilian:-- + +"_Va con Dios_!" + +Standing up in his stirrups, with a shout and counter salute, the gaucho +returns the valediction; then, spurring forward and placing himself at +the head of the retreating party, they ride on, with no thought of again +halting so long as their horses can keep their feet. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY NINE. + +FRIENDS OR FOES? + +The solitary _estancia_ which for two years had been the happy home of +Ludwig Halberger and his family, but late the abode of deepest sorrow, +is once more revisited by a gleam of joy. For the rescuing party has +returned to it, bringing Francesca back safe and still unharmed. In the +tumult of gratified emotions at recovering her lost child,--or rather +children, for she had begun to think them all for ever gone from her-- +the widow almost forgets that she is widowed. + +Only for a brief moment, however. The other great bereavement has been +too recent to remain long out of her thoughts, and soon returns to them +in its full afflicting bitterness. + +But she has no time to dwell upon it now. The tale of actual experience +which the rescuers have brought back, with Caspar's surmises added, has +given her a full and clear comprehension of everything; not only +explaining the tragic event already past, but foreshadowing other and +further dangers yet to come, and which may, at any moment, descend upon +herself and the dear ones still left to her. + +She has no longer any doubts as to the hand that has dealt her such a +terrible blow; neither of the man who actually committed the murder, nor +of him who instigated it. For Francesca's recognition of Valdez has +confirmed all the gaucho's conjectures. + +And the Dictator of Paraguay is not the man to leave unfinished either +his cruel deeds or designs. Surely will he further prosecute them, +either by hastening himself to the _estancia_, or sending thither his +myrmidons. Yes, at any hour, any minute, a party of these may appear +approaching it from the east, while in like short time the pursuing +Tovas, headed by their enraged _cacique_, may show themselves coming +from the west. + +No wonder that the moments of mutual congratulation between the Senora +Halberger and those just returned to her are brief, and but little +joyful. The fugitives have reached home, but not to find it a refuge. +For them it is no more a place of safety; instead, the most perilous in +which they could now or ever after sojourn. But where are they to go-- +whither further flee? In all the Chaco there is not a spot that can +shelter them from such pursuers as they are expecting! + +It is now near noon of the fourth day since they left the Sacred Town of +the Tovas, and in the interval they had been riding hard and fast, day +and night, scarce allowing themselves either sleep or rest. But, fast +as they have travelled, they know that Aguara, with his braves, will not +be far behind; and although less than an hour has elapsed since their +arrival at the _estancia_, Gaspar has already made preparations for +their departure from it. Assisted by the faithful Guano Indians, who of +course are to accompany them in their flight, he has caught up and +caparisoned fresh horses, with the mules belonging to the establishment. +Still the question remains unanswered--Whither are they to go? +Throughout all the vicissitudes of his eventful life, never had the +gaucho one so perplexing him, or fraught with such fears. + +In the hope of finding an answer, and the better to reflect upon it, he +has drawn a little apart from the house, with the hurry and bustle going +on around it. A slight eminence, not far off in front, gives a +commanding view of the _campo_; and, taking stand upon its top, he first +casts a sweeping glance around the horizon, then fixes it only in one +direction--that southwards, towards the old _tolderia_. For, although +expecting enemies both from east and west, he knows that, coming from +either side, they will most likely approach by the Pilcomayo's bank; the +former by the trail leading up the river, the latter by the same going +down. It is not the first time for him to be standing on that elevated +spot. Every ten minutes since their return to the _estancia_, he has +been upon it, gazing out in the same way, and for the self-same purpose. +Still, as yet, he observes nothing to add to his apprehensions, already +keen enough. No living thing--much less human being--stirs over the +wide expanse of green grassy plain. For it is near the meridian hour, +and the tropical sun, pouring its fervid rays vertically down, has +forced both birds and quadrupeds inside the cooler shadow of their +coverts. Only two of the former are seen--a brace of _urubus_, or "king +vultures," soaring in circles aloft--beautiful birds, but less +emblematic of life than death. A bad omen he might deem their presence; +and worse, if he but saw what they see. For, from their more elevated +position, they command a view of the plain to a much greater distance, +and see mounted men upon it; not a single party, but three distinct +groups of them, leagues distant from each other, though all round for +the _estancia_. They are approaching it by separate routes, and from +different quarters of the compass; one party coming up the Pilcomayo's +bank, and making straight for the old _tolderia_, a second moving +towards the same place on the down-river trail; while the third, away +from the river, and out upon the open plain, is heading more direct for +the _estancia_ itself. The first cohort, which is the smallest, is +composed of some forty or fifty horsemen, riding "by twos;" their +regular formation on the march, but more the uniformity in their dress, +arms, and accoutrements, telling them to be soldiers. For such they +really are--the _cuarteleros_ of Paraguay, with Rufino Valdez riding at +their head; not as their commanding officer, but in the exercise of his +more proper and special calling of _vaqueano_, or guide. Ghastly and +pallid, with his arm supported in a sling, he is on the way back to +Halberger's _estancia_, to complete the ruffian's task assigned to him +by the Dictator of Paraguay, and make more desolate the home he had +already enough ruined. But for his mischance in the _biscachera_, the +rescuers would have found it empty on their return, and instead of a +lost daughter, it would have been the mother missing. + +The second band of horsemen, coming from the opposite quarter and down +the river, is no other than the pursuing party of Tovas, with Aguara at +their head. They are mostly young men, the _cacique's_ particular +friends and partisans, nearly a hundred in number, all armed with +_bolas_ and long spears. Hastily summoned together, they had started in +pursuit soon as they could catch up their horses; but with all their +speed the rescuing party had so far kept ahead, as to have arrived at +the _estancia_ some time before them. But they are pressing on for it +now, fast as their horses can carry them, urged forward by their leader, +who, in his rage, is not only determined to retake the escaped captive, +but kill cousin, brother, all who aided in her escape. + +The third party, also approaching from the west, but by a route leading +direct to the house, with the river far southward on their right, is, as +the second, composed entirely of Tovas Indians. But, instead of them +being the youths of the tribe, they are, for the most part, men of +mature age, though a young man is at their head, and acting as their +commander. There is a girl riding by his side, a beautiful girl, at a +glance recognisable as Nacena--he himself being her brother, Kaolin. + +They and their party are also pursuing. Though not to retake, the +paleface captive; instead, to protect her--the object of their pursuit +being Aguara himself. For soon as the latter had started off on his +reckless chase--braving public opinion, and defying the opposition of +the elders--a revolution had arisen in the tribe; while a council +meeting, hastily called in the _malocca_, had, with almost unanimous +vote, deposed him from the chieftainship, and chosen Kaolin _cacique_ in +his stead. Needless to say, that to all this Nacena was a consenting +party. And something more--since she gave the cue to her brother, who +was chief instigator in the revolt. That blow which laid her along the +earth, with the cause for which it was given, had severed the last link +of love that bound her to Aguara, and for him her heart is now full of +hate and burning with vengeance. While pressing on in pursuit of his +escaped captive, little dreams the deposed _cacique_ of the Tovas, +either that he has been deposed of his chieftainship or that others are +pursuing him. + +But his pursuers are not now behind him; instead, in front, or, at all +events, nearer to the _estancia_ than he. For Kaolin's followers, +availing themselves of a route known to one of their number--a shorter +cut across the _pampas_--have passed the party led by Aguara, and will +be the first to arrive at the objective point aimed at by both. + +And they are first sighted by Gaspar, though the gaucho has not been +looking in their direction, little expectant of pursuers to come from +that quarter. The _urubus_ have guided him, or rather their shadows +gliding over the grassy sward; these, as the birds making them, having +suddenly passed away towards the west. Following them with his eyes, he +sees what causes him to exclaim-- + +"_Santos Dios_! we are lost. Too late--too late; 'tis all over with us +now!" + +His cry, sent up in accent of deepest despair, brings Ludwig and +Cypriano to his side: and the three stand watching the dark cohort +advancing towards them. None of them speaks or thinks of retreat. That +would be idle, and any attempt at escape must surely result in failure; +while to resist would but hasten the disaster impending over them. +Convinced of this, they no longer contemplate either flight or +resistance, but stand in sullen silence to await the approach of the +pursuers, for such they suppose them to be. Deeming them avengers also, +as well they may, recalling their last encounter with the young Tovas +chief. + +Never did mistaken men more rejoice at their mistake than do they, when, +on the band of Indian braves galloping up to the ground, they behold at +its head, and evidently in command of it, not the _cacique_ Aguara, but +the sub-chief, Kaolin, and beside him his sister Nacena! She who aided +them in effecting the escape of the captive, and, as a last word, bade +them "God speed," would not be with pursuers who are hostile. + +Nor is she, as they soon learn; instead, along with friends who come but +to give comfort and protection! + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY. + +SPEEDY RETRIBUTION. + +Short time stays Kaolin and his party by the _estancia_: for the +newly-elected chief of the Tovas is a man of ready resolves and quick +action, and soon as his story is told, with that of the others heard in +return, he again mounts, and makes ready for the march--this time to be +directed towards the old _tolderia_. He knows that his rival _cacique_ +must come that way, as also the other enemy of whom Caspar has given him +information, and who may be expected as soon, if not sooner, than Aguara +himself. + +The gaucho goes along with him, as so would Cypriano and Ludwig, but +that Caspar forbids it; urging them to remain at the _estancia_ as +company, and, if need be, protection, for the _senora_ and _nina_. Thus +influenced, they both stay. + +Straight off over the _pampa_ rides Kaolin, at the head of his hundred +stalwart warriors, his sister still by his side. She also had been +counselled to remain behind, an advice she disdainfully rejected. The +revenge burning in her breast will not let her rest, till she has seen +her false lover, her insulter, laid low. + +Her brother, too, and all his band of braves, are alike eager for the +conflict to come. It was not so before their arrival at the _estancia_. +Then they only thought of dealing with their deposed _cacique_ and his +youthful followers, foolish as himself; nor dreamt they aught of danger. +But now, with the prospect of meeting another and very different enemy, +more dangerous and more hated, their savage nature is roused within them +to an ire uncontrollable. By chance, Kaolin himself has a special +dislike for the _vaqueano_ Valdez; while as to the others, despite the +restored treaty forced upon them by Aguara, their friendship has not +been restored with it; and they urge their horses forward, burning for +an encounter with the _cuarteleros_ of Paraguay. + +Though the gaucho rides at the head of the quick marching party, and +alongside their leader, it is not to guide them. They know the ground +as well, and better than he; for oft and many a time have they quartered +that same _campo_, in pursuit of _gama, guazuti_, and ostrich. + +Kaolin directs his march in a straight course for the old _tolderia_, +though not now designing to go so far. His objective point for the +present is a high bluff which hems in the valley of the Pilcomayo, and +from which a view may be obtained of the river for long leagues upward +and downward, as of the deserted village, at no great distance off upon +its bank. Through a ravine that cuts this bluff transversely, the +latter can alone be reached from the elevated plain over which they are +advancing. + +Arrived at the upper end of the gorge, they do not go down it. Instead, +commanding his warriors to make halt, Kaolin himself dismounts; and +signing the gaucho to keep him company, the two step crouchingly forward +and upward to the outer edge of the cliff. + +Soon as reaching it they get sight of what they had more than half +expected to see: two bands of men mounted and upon the march, one with +the horses' heads directed down the stream, the other up it. The first, +as can be seen at a glance, is the pursuing party of Tovas youths led by +Aguara; while the sun shining upon gilt buttons, with the glittering of +lance blades and barrels of guns, tells the other to be a troop of +soldiers, beyond doubt the looked for _cuarteleros_! Both are at about +a like distance from the abandoned town, heading straight for it; and +while Kaolin and the gaucho continue watching them they ride in among +the _toldos_ from opposite sides, meeting face to face on the open space +by the _malocca_. + +At sight of one another the two sets come to a sudden halt; and, for a +second or two, seem engaged in a mutual and suspicious reconnaissance. +But their distrust is of short continuance; for there is a rogue at the +head of each, and these, as if instinctively recognising one another, +are seen to advance and shake hands, while their followers mutually +mingle and fraternise. + +Amicable relations being thus established between them, the men on both +sides are observed to dismount, as if they intended to make stay in the +_tolderia_. A movement, which puzzles Kaolin and the gaucho, who were +about going back to the gorge with the design of taking steps for +defending it. Instead, they remain upon the cliff's crest to watch the +enemy below. + +And they continue watching there till the sun goes down, and the purple +of twilight spreads itself over the plain bordering the Pilcomayo; this +succeeded by a mist rising from the river, and shrouding the deserted +village in its murky embrace. But before night's darkness is altogether +on they see a mounted troop, filing by twos, out from among the +_toldos_, with lances carried aloft, and pennons floating over their +heads--surely the _cuarteleros_. There is just light enough left to +show two men in the lead, dressed differently from these following. One +of these resplendent in a feather-embroidered _manta_, Kaolin recognises +as his rival Aguara; while the gaucho identifies the other as his +oldest, deadliest, and most dangerous enemy, Valdez, the _vaqueano_. + +They remain not a moment longer on the cliff; for, eager as Gaspar +Mendez may be to rid himself of that enemy, he is not more so than the +Indian to send to his long account the man who insulted his sister. Now +more than ever determined upon avenging her wrongs, he rushes back to +his braves, and hurriedly puts them in ambush near the head of the +gorge, at a point where the defile is narrowest; himself taking stand on +a ledge, which commands the pass, in such manner, that with his long +spear he can reach across it from side to side. + +At length has the opportunity arrived for the angry brother to take the +retribution he has resolved upon--Nacena herself being a witness to it. +For she is near by, standing on a higher bench behind, in posed +attitude, with her features hard set and lips compressed, as one about +to be spectator to a sad and painful scene. But if she feel sadness, it +is not for the death now threatening Aguara. That blow had changed her +fond love to bitterest resentment; and instead of doing aught, or saying +word, to stay her brother's hand, she but by her presence and silence +incites him to the deed of vengeance. + +It is soon and quickly done. Scarce has the ambuscade been set, when +the trampling of horses heard down the defile tells of a cavalcade +coming up, and presently the foremost files appear rounding an angle of +rock. Dim as is the light, the horseman leading can be told to be the +young Tovas _cacique_, while the one immediately in his rear is +recognisable as Rufino Valdez. At sight of the latter the gaucho, who +is close to Kaolin, feeling all his old hatred revived, and recalling, +too, the murder of his beloved master, with difficulty restrains himself +from springing down and commencing the conflict. He is prevented by a +sign from Kaolin; who, on the instant, after leaning forward lounges out +with his spear. A wild cry tells that it has pierced the body of +Aguara; then drawn instantly back and given a second thrust, it passes +through that of the _vaqueano_--both dropping from their horses dead, as +if by a bullet through the brain! + +The soldiers coming on behind are brought to a sudden stop; scarce +comprehending why, till they hear the wild Tovas war-cry raised above +their heads, at the same time being saluted with a shower of _bolas +peridas_ rained down from the rocks, these terrible missiles crushing in +every skull with which they came into contact. + +The scared _cuarteleros_ stay for no more; but, with a cry of treason, +turn their horses' heads, and hurry back down the ravine. Nor stop they +at the _tolderia_; but still under the belief of having been betrayed, +continue their retreat down the river, and on toward Paraguay, leaving +over a dozen of them dead in that dark defile. + +As for the followers of Aguara, they make no show of fight. Now that +their leader is no more, there is no cause of quarrel between them and +the warriors of the tribe, and not a hand is raised to avenge their +young _cacique_. For on learning the full character of his designs, and +his complicity with the cruel _vaqueano_, all acknowledge that both men +have but met the death they deserved. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY ONE. + +CONCLUSION. + +After a day's rest at their old _tolderia_, the two parties of Tovas, +now united in amity, set out on return to their Sacred Town. And along +with them goes the Senora Halberger, with all the members of her +family--including the Guano Indian domestics, and, needless to say, not +leaving Gaspar Mendez behind. And, alike idle to declare, that they go +not as captives; but guests, to be honoured and better cared for than +ever before. Better protected, too; for, as ever do they need +protection; now more than ever likely to be under the ban of the +Paraguayan despot. That solitary _estancia_ would no longer be a safe +place of residence for them, and they well know it. + +Perfect safety they find at the Sacred Town, and hospitality too, great +as when Naraguana himself dispensed it. For is not Kaolin now +_cacique_--he who saved them from death and destruction? + +Kindly he extends his protection, and generously bestows his +hospitality. But they do not for long need the former, nor are they +called upon to abuse the latter by a too protracted stay. Shortly after +their arrival at the Sacred Town, they get news which, though of death, +gives them joy, as it only could and should; since it is the death of +that man who has been the cause of all their miseries. Jose Francia, +feared far and wide throughout Paraguay, and even beyond its borders, +has at length paid the debt due by all men, whether bad or good. But +although dead, strange to say, in the land he so long ruled with hard +ruthless hand, still dreaded almost as much as when living; his cowed +and craven subjects speaking of him with trembling lips and bated +breath, no more as "El Supremo," but "El Defunto!" + +The Senora Halberger believes she may now return to her native country, +without fear of further persecution from him. But Caspar thinks +otherwise; deeming it still unsafe, and pointing out the danger of their +being called to account for what they were not guilty of--the slaughter +of the _cuarteleros_ in the defile. In fine, he urges her to make her +future home in the Argentine States; a pleasanter land to live in, +besides being a land of liberty, and, above all, the orthodox country of +his own class and kind, the _gauchos_. + +Observing the justness of his arguments, she consents to follow his +advice; and to the Argentine States they all go, journeying across many +great rivers and through hundreds of miles of wilderness. But they are +not permitted to travel either unprotected or alone; for Kaolin +accompanies them, with a band of his best braves--Nacena also forming +one of the escort. + +The Tovas _cacique_ sees them over the Salado river, and within safe +distance of the outlying settlements of San Rosario, there leaving them. +But when he parts company, to return to the Sacred Town, his sister +returns not with him. Though as a brother he be dear to her, she has +found one dearer, with whom she prefers to stay. And does stay, Kaolin +himself consenting; since the dearer one is his own friend and former +playmate. The gentle Ludwig has at length succeeded in winning the +heart of the savage maiden--still whole, despite the tearing of a +misplaced passion, long since passed away. + +Our tale could be prolonged, and the characters who have figured in it +followed further; but not through scenes of the same exciting character +as those already detailed. Instead, the record of their after life, +though not devoid of stirring incident, is more signalised by scenes of +peace and prosperity. The reader will be satisfied with a peep at it, +obtained some ten years later than the date of their settling down in +the Argentine States. A traveller at this time passing from San Rosario +to the German Colonies recently established on the Salado river, near +the old but abandoned missionary settlement of Santa Fe, could not fail +to observe a grand _estancia_; a handsome dwelling-house with +outbuildings, _corrals_ for the enclosure of cattle, and all the +appurtenances of a first-class _ganaderia_, or grazing establishment. +Should he ask to whom it belongs, he would have for answer, "The Senora +Halberger;" and if curiosity led him to inquire further, he might be +told that this lady, who is _una viuda_, is but the nominal head of the +concern, which is rather owned conjointly by her son and nephew, living +along with her. Both married though; the latter, Senor Cypriano, to her +daughter and his own cousin; while the former, Senor Ludwig, has for his +wife an Indian woman; with possibly the remark added, that this Indian +woman is as beautiful and accomplished as though she were a white. + +Were the traveller to deviate a little from his route, and approach near +enough to the house, he might see the members of this double though +united family, surrounded by several pretty children of both sexes, +strolling about in happy harmony, and with that freedom from care which +speaks of wealth, at the same time telling of its having been honestly +acquired. + +Whether or not such a tableau be presented to the traveller's eye, one +man who should figure in it would sure be seen moving about the place. +For he is the _mayor-domo_ of the estate, and if not actual master, the +manager of all. As in that old _estancia_ near the northern bank of the +Pilcomayo, so in this new and grander one on the southern side of the +Salado, everything is entrusted, as safely it may be, to GASPAR, THE +GAUCHO. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Gaspar the Gaucho, by Mayne Reid + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GASPAR THE GAUCHO *** + +***** This file should be named 23648.txt or 23648.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/6/4/23648/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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