The Queen of the Savannah: A Story of the Mexican War

by Gustave Aimard

  CHAPTER III.

  THE SUCCOUR.

  The emotion caused by the strange apparition we described in the lastchapter was gradually dissipated; minds regained their equilibrium,and ere long the travellers, reassured by each other's presence,laughed and jested at the terror they had felt. Two of them, however,more obstinate, or more affected than the rest, wished to detectthe meaning of this extraordinary adventure, and, as if by commonaccord, though they did not communicate to each other the result oftheir reflections, they fetched their horses, mounted, and rushed intothe forest from two opposite points. These two men were Don AurelioGutierrez and the Canadian adventurer, known as the Sumach.

  Their absence was long, and their comrades impatiently awaited theirreturn for several hours. At length they reappeared, each coming ina direction opposed to that in which he had set out. For a radius offour leagues round the clearing, they had explored the forest, clumpby clump, bush by bush, but in vain; their researches had obtained noresult; they had discovered no trace, and found no sign which mightlead them to the truth. At one moment the adventurer fancied that heheard the distant gallop of a horse; but the sound was so remote, soindistinct, that it was impossible for him to form any opinion oracquire a certainty. As for Don Aurelio, the forest had been as silentto him as a tomb.

  Both, therefore, rejoined their companions with hanging heads andminds occupied with this apparition, which seemed to them the strangerbecause their staunch hearts and straightforward minds could not acceptit as a divine intervention, and yet it could not be an hallucination.At the moment when they re-entered the clearing the night was nearlyspent, the stars were growing pale, and expiring one after another.Wide tinted bands were beginning to appear athwart the horizon, theflowers and plants exhaled a sharper and more penetrating perfume, andthe birds nestled beneath the leaves were already preluding with timidnotes the melodious concert with which they each morning salute thebreak of day. The sun would make its appearance ere long.

  The horses were saddled, and the travellers had only been awaiting thereturn of the two explorers to resume their journey. At the moment whenDon Aurelio was about to give the signal to start, the Sumach walked upto him and laid his hand on the bridle of his horse.

  "One moment," he said; "before we start I should wish to make a fewremarks to you."

  The Mexican regarded the adventurer closely, and read on his thoughtfulface so serious an expression that he bowed to him deferentially.

  "I am listening to you," he said.

  The Sumach, as the surname he bore sufficiently proved, was a manendowed with that ferocious and blunt courage to which every contestis a holiday, and which overthrows any obstacles that rise before it,however great they may be. Deeds done by this man were related whichdisplayed a boldness and temerity bordering on the prodigious. Fearwas as unknown to him as was weakness. But he was a Canadian; that isto say, he belonged to that hardy Norman race, so superstitious andcredulous, which trembles at night at the dashing of an owl's wingagainst a pane of glass, and for which apparitions and phantoms arealmost articles of belief. In a word, this man, who would have beenunmoved by the sight of twenty rifles pointed at his bosom, had aninward tremor at the thought of the past night's apparition. And yet,so peculiar is the human mind, the suspicious being who had so startledhim had scarce disappeared ere he rushed in pursuit. The truth was thathis indomitable courage had revolted at the thought of the involuntarypanic, his heart palpitated with shame, and he tried to discover thetruth or falsehood there might be in the occurrence.

  The sterile hunt he had made in the forest had put the final touch onhis mental confusion, conviction was forced upon him, and now he feltcertain that a supernatural intervention had given them a warning whichthey would do very wrong in neglecting. This was the reason which madehim oppose the immediate departure of the travellers and address DonAurelio.

  "Listen, caballero," he said to him, in a firm voice, "I am only anignorant adventurer to whom books have hitherto been unknown things.There are few things in the world I fear, but I am a Christian and aCatholic; as such I cannot believe that God would disturb the orderof nature without some powerful reason. What is your opinion in thematter?"

  "I entirely share your opinion, my good fellow," Don Aurelio replied,who, a good Catholic himself, and sincerely attached to his religion,did not dream of disputing its dogmas and creeds.

  "In that case," the adventurer continued, "trusting only to my own poorjudgment, the being who appeared to us a few hours ago does not belongto this world. Yourself fired two pistol shots almost point-blankwithout hitting, and though we started immediately in pursuit we foundno signs or trace. Is that so?"

  "I must allow, senor, that all this is not only perfectly true butstrictly exact."

  "Very good," the Sumach continued, evidently pleased with this answer."Now, neither of us can affirm with certainty whether this being comesfrom heaven or the other place; but that is of but slight importanceto me. What I consider as far more serious is the advice offered to us.Whether it be true or false we are unable to discover at this moment,but it is our duty not to neglect it. If a serious danger menacesyour friends we are not numerous enough at this moment to offer themeffectual help."

  "That is just; but what is to be done?" the Mexican remarked, struck bythe adventurer's logical reasoning.

  "Patience," the latter said, with a smile full of meaning. "Did notmy comrade, Moonshine, tell you last night that if you broke yourengagement with me I should not fail of avengers."

  "It is true," Don Aurelio exclaimed, eagerly.

  "Well," the Canadian said, "what I did not care to tell you then Iwill confess now. I have some twenty comrades a few leagues from here,Canadians like myself, all resolute men and devoted to me. I was goingto rejoin them last night when we met. I will place them at yourorders, if you like, for this expedition, on the understanding thatwhen the danger has passed--should there be any--if the conditions weoffer do not please you, we shall be at liberty to withdraw in safety."

  "Certainly," Viscachu exclaimed, yielding involuntarily to the joyhe probably experienced; but, recognizing at once the fault he hadcommitted, he humbly withdrew behind his master, muttering--

  "Pardon me, Senor Caballero."

  "I pledge you my word as a gentleman," Don Aurelio answered; "then youhave at your disposal twenty bold comrades?"

  "Yes, or nearly so," the adventurer said; "and I offer them to you."

  "Unfortunately we are in a hurry, and you will not have time to warnthem."

  "Well, I did not think of that," the Canadian said, thoughtfully.

  "Where are they at this moment?"

  "I told you; about two leagues from here."

  "But in what direction?" Don Aurelio pressed him.

  "Hang it! As you belong to the country, you will know better than I;they are encamped at a place called the Giant's Peak, on the roadrunning to the Hacienda del Barrio."

  "What!" the Mexican exclaimed, in delight, "Why that is the veryhacienda we are going to!"

  "Can it be possible?" the adventurer asked, in amazement.

  "Nothing is truer; my friends are going to assemble there."

  "If that be the case, it is useless to lose any further valuable time;let us be off at once."

  "Of course; I am most anxious to do so."

  "By the way," said the Sumach, "I will go on ahead, so as to warn mycomrades, in that way you will not be obliged to make a circuit toreach our camp, and when you arrive opposite the Giant's Peak, you willfind us on the road ready to follow you. Does that suit you?"

  "iCanarios! I should think so; you are a precious man, you think ofeverything, so be off at once."

  The Canadian dug his spurs into his horse's flanks and started atfull speed. The travellers followed him at once; their pace, thoughrapid, was however much more moderate than that of the adventurer, whoappeared to devour space. Moonshine remained with the Mexicans, andgalloped by the side of Don Aurelio.

  "Why did you not
tell me about your cuadrilla?" the latter asked him.

  "Pardon me, senor," the Canadian said, "but your memory fails you atthis moment; I was about to speak of it when my friend, the Sumach,forced me to be silent."

  "That is true; I remember."

  "Now," he continued, "I will take the liberty of remarking, that inspeaking of my comrade's party you used the words _your_ cuadrilla."

  "Well," Don Aurelio observed, "have I unwittingly offended you by thatqualification?"

  "Not at all, senor; still I will inform you that I do not at all belongto this cuadrilla, as you call it; I am simply a buffalo hunter andbeaver trapper. I do not say that when the opportunity offers to drawa bead on a redskin I refuse to do so; far from it--it is, in fact, anamusement in which I frequently indulge; but soldiering is not at allin my line."

  "I thought you an intimate friend of your countryman," the Mexicanremarked.

  "You were not mistaken," the hunter answered, "we are indeed very oldfriends, though our avocations are diametrically opposed."

  "And on the present occasion, would you refuse the support of your armin defending the good cause?"

  "I do not know what you call the good cause," the Canadian replied,simply, "and, as a foreigner, I care very little to learn what it is.Thanks to heaven your disputes do not concern me the least in theworld; but I should consider myself a coward if I abandoned a man withwhom I have eaten and drunk, and by whose side I have slept, when aserious danger seems to threaten him. Hence you can safely reckon onme."

  "Thanks, caballero," the Mexican said, warmly; "you are a man whoseheart is in the right place."

  "I believe it is; but I do not see why you should take the trouble tothank me for so natural a thing as this."

  Don Aurelio regarded him for a moment with repressed admiration.

  "Let me shake your hand," he said to him.

  "With pleasure," the hunter simply replied.

  During the preceding conversation the sun had risen on the horizon,and beneath the influence of its hot and enlivening beams, which madethe pebbles in the road glisten like diamonds, the scenery had lostthat stern appearance which the darkness had imparted to it. A warmvapour rose from the ground and formed a species of; transparent fog,that refreshed the atmosphere which was already rendered sultry by thesun; the leaves damp with dew seemed greener, the birds twittered inrivalry, and at times an elk or antelope, startled by the thunderingecho of the horses' hoofs, leaped from beneath a bush, and dashed madlyaway with head thrown back and dilated eye; or the alligators raisedtheir heavy heads from the mud in which they were imbedded, and aftergazing at the travellers for a moment, plunged into the lake.

  The Mexicans galloped on thus without the slightest incident for abouttwo hours, conversing together about indifferent topics, and apparentlyas tranquil as if they were not going to meet a probable danger. Theyhad left for some time the banks of the lake which they had hithertobeen following, and, turning to the right, entered a narrow track,the bed of a dried-up torrent, encased between two hills over whichmighty oaks formed a dense dome of verdure which the sunbeams could notpenetrate.

  "The Giant's Peak is only a league and a half to our left," Don Aureliosaid to the Canadian.

  "In that case," the latter quietly replied, "we shall soon come up withour friends; they must be waiting for us at the end of that canyon."

  In fact, when the travellers passed through the species of defile inwhich they were, they saw, about fifty yards ahead of them, a party ofhorsemen drawn up in good order, at whose head Don Aurelio recognized,with a delight he did not attempt to conceal, the worthy adventurer.The two bands were soon commingled.

  "Thanks," the Mexican said with a smile to the Canadian; "you are a manof your word."

  "Did you doubt it?" the other remarked.

  "Certainly not."

  And they continued their journey at a gallop. They had at the most buttwo leagues to go ere they reached the hacienda. Moonshine spurred hishorse, which soon carried him twenty yards ahead of the party.

  "Where are you going?" Don Aurelio shouted to him.

  "To scout," the hunter answered; "let me alone. We must not fall into awasps' nest."

  "Go on, my friend," said the Mexican.

  The hunter went off; but a quarter of an hour had scarce elapsed erehis comrades saw him returning at full gallop, and making them signs tohalt, which they obeyed.

  "Oh, oh!" Moonshine exclaimed, so soon as he had rejoined them, "thewarning was good: whether angel or demon, the person who gave it waswell informed."

  "Explain, explain," his hearers shouted.

  "Silence," the hunter replied. "Listen!"

  All did so; and then the distant detonation of firearms could bedistinctly heard.

  "What is happening?" Don Aurelio asked, a prey to the liveliest anxiety.

  "A very simple thing," the hunter answered; "two or three hundredIndians, or at least men dressed in their garb, are furiously attackingthe hacienda, the inhabitants of which are offering the most vigorousresistance."

  "iCaray! Comrades, we must hasten to their assistance," Don Aurelioexclaimed.

  "That is also my opinion; but take my advice; let us not act rashly,but take our precautions, for these Indians appear to me suspicious;they manage their pieces too well, and take too good an aim to be realredskins, and Indians would never venture to attack in open daylight afortress like the one before us."

  "Then your opinion is--"

  "That they are disguised Spaniards, viva Dios, and nought else."

  "We cannot hesitate," said the Sumach. "Every minute is worth an age.Let us approach softly, so as not to reveal our presence prematurely,and when we are near enough to the demons, let us charge themvigorously."

  "Yes, we have nothing else to do. Forward!" Don Aurelio shouted.

  "Forward!" the adventurers repeated.

  The nearer they drew, the more distinct the sound became. Withthe shots were mingled ferocious yells and howls uttered by theassailants, and to which the defenders of the hacienda responded withequally ferocious cries. They soon came in sight of the fortress, andperceived the combatants. The engagement was of a serious nature. TheIndians, or men looking like them, fought with incredible energy andcontempt of death, trying, in spite of the fire of the besieged, toescalade the walls of the hacienda, the top of which several of themwere on the point of reaching. In spite of the courage they evinced,the defenders were unfortunately too few to carry on the contest muchlonger with any prospect of victory.

  All at once a formidable cry was raised, and the Indians, furiouslyattacked in the rear, were obliged to wheel round. It was the chargeof the adventurers. At the same moment further succour arrived for thebesieged, for a second band of strangers rushed forward like a manadaof forest tigers, and taking the Indians on the flank, made a desperateattack. The latter bravely supported this double assault, which theyresisted with the utmost bravery; but the defenders of the haciendafinding they were at liberty through this providential help, whichthey were far from anticipating, made a sortie, and proceeded to helptheir defenders. There it became no longer a fight, but a butchery. TheIndians, after disputing the ground for some moments, recognized themadness of a longer contest. They turned their backs, and sought safetyin flight.

  The second band, which charged the Indians simultaneously with theCanadians, had also disappeared. Still the Sumach, with a surprisemingled with horror, fancied that he recognized at the head of thisband the fantastic being who had appeared in the forest; hence, in hissimple credulity, he was not far from supposing that these combatantswho vanished so suddenly were demons. When the few wounded white menwere picked up, the adventurers, and those who had given them sucheffectual assistance, entered the hacienda. The plain, so noisy a fewmoments previously, became silent and solitary once again; and thebirds of prey, left masters of the obstinately disputed battlefield,began circling heavily above the corpses, with hoarse and sinistercroaks of joy.