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

by Gustave Aimard

  CHAPTER XIII.

  AN ALARM.

  The journey, begun under rather gloomy auspices, was continued moregaily, in spite of the pride and taciturnity of the Spanish soldiers.The latter, who took a pride in behaving exactly like their master, onseeing the count talking in a friendly way with the adventurer, broke,in their turn, the silence to which they had obstinately condemnedthemselves since the morning, and interchanged a few remarks, thoughextremely careful not to raise their voices above an indistinct murmur.

  Several hours passed, and nothing interrupted the monotony of thejourney. The Spaniards had left the banks of the lake and entered acountry whose gloomy and desolate appearance was rendered even moresad by the approach of night. There were no lofty trees, no smilingsavannahs. On all sides rose overthrown rocks, piled in a disorderlymanner on each other, some covered with a velvety moss, others scarceallowing their black hue to be guessed beneath a cloak of brambles andcherfoil. In some spots, the water forced its way through crevices inthe rock, and rolled through green strata, glistening with mica. Anameless stream with difficulty found a passage through the midst ofthis chaos, and occupied two-thirds of the canyon which the travellerswere constrained to follow; at rare intervals, stunted trees werevisible: still, as nature ever has her harmony, the breeze ever andanon entered the canyon. Then, as if by enchantment, the mysteriousdialogues between the leaves and the wind, the nymphaeas and the water,filled this desolate solitude with ineffable choruses.

  The travellers yielded involuntarily to the depressing influences ofthe scenery they passed through, the conversation suddenly ceased, andeach rode with his hand on his weapon, looking anxiously around andready to fire at the slightest suspicious movement in the chaparral.The Sumach halted, and thoughtfully examined the gloomy landscapespread out in front of him.

  "What is the matter?" the count asked him; "What are you thinking aboutat this moment, caballero?"

  "I am thinking, senor," the adventurer said, seriously, "that DonAnibal spoke most sensibly to you this morning, and that you acted verywrong in neglecting his advice and refusing his offer."

  "Oh, oh," the count replied with a forced smile; "this country has nota very encouraging look, I allow, still I dare not believe that you areafraid."

  The adventurer looked at him.

  "And even if I were afraid," he said a moment later, "do you thinkI should do my duty worse on that account, in a case of need? Fearis nothing but the instinct of self-preservation, a nervous movementindependent of our will, which causes us to forebode danger, and thushelps us to conquer it by suggesting the means of avoiding it. Fear isnothing dishonouring; every man has been afraid several times in hislife, and he who denies it is a brute. I never see a gun barrel pointedat my chest without feeling a sensation of internal cold which issimply fear."

  "The man who speaks so frankly of a feeling which everybody triesto hide must be brave," said the count; "but let us break off thisdiscussion for the present, which we will resume at a more favourablemoment, and pray explain your ideas to me."

  "It will not take long, senor; my opinion is that no spot could bebetter chosen than this for an ambuscade."

  "Which means?"

  "That, if we are to be attacked, it will be inevitably here."

  "The spot, it is true, has a bad reputation; but it is long since anyattack of the sort has been heard of in the country, and nothing leadsto the supposition that we have one to apprehend."

  The Canadian shook his head with a preoccupied air which alarmed thecount.

  "Come," he said, "my friend, speak clearly; I am a man. Have we, yes orno, anything to fear?"

  "Yes," Oliver replied bluntly.

  "Do you think so?"

  "No; I am sure of it."

  "Still, up to the present, we have perceived nothing."

  "You, doubtless," the adventurer interrupted, "whose senses have beenblunted by a long residence in towns, have perceived nothing; but I,accustomed to desert life, have during the last ten minutes picked upproofs which do not permit me the least doubt on this head. I repeatthat we shall be attacked within an hour perhaps, but assuredly atsunset."

  "Tell me what signs you have discovered."

  "What good will that do, senor? It is better to profit by the time leftus to prepare to resist the attack that threatens us."

  "I wish to have the proof, not because I doubt your words or yoursagacity, but because there is in all this something extraordinarywhich I wish to unravel."

  "Be satisfied, then," the hunter said; "stoop down."

  The adventurer removed a few leaves, and displayed a footstep perfectlyimprinted on the damp ground.

  "What is this?" the count said, with a surprise mingled with terror.

  "It is the mark of a war moccasin," the hunter answered calmly. "Now,remain here without stirring, while I follow the track; within halfan hour we shall know who the enemies are who are upon our trail, andtheir number."

  Without awaiting the count's answer, the adventurer dismounted, slippedinto the bushes, and disappeared, ere the other had entirely recoveredfrom the amazement the discovery of this Indian sign caused him. Asalways happens under such circumstances, in the hour of danger, theCanadian adventurer, owing to his thorough acquaintance with Indianhabits, instantaneously became the most important man of the party. Thecount and the soldiers composing his escort, though very brave in thepresence of civilized enemies, had an instinctive terror of savages,which, in the probable event of a struggle, would inevitably entailtheir ruin, had they not had with them a man in whose experience andfidelity they placed entire confidence.

  This confidence the adventurer, whom that same morning they hadregarded not only as a stranger, but almost as an enemy, had managedto obtain in a few hours; as for his experience, he had just furnisheda proof, which removed any doubt. Hence the Spaniards were resolved tofollow his advice, and obey without discussion the orders he thoughtproper to give them, as they were persuaded that their safety woulddepend solely on their docility, and the rapidity of their movements.The Canadian's absence was not longer than he had stated: he suddenlyreappeared among the travellers before they had seen or heard himcoming.

  "Well," the count asked him eagerly, "what news? Were you mistaken?"

  The adventurer burst into a mocking laugh.

  "I mistaken! Hang me if that is possible," he said.

  "Then, we are pursued by Indians?"

  "Pursued and preceded; we are literally between two fires."

  The Spaniards felt a shudder run over them on hearing this.

  "Are they numerous?" the count continued.

  "No, there are only a few warriors; the weakness of our party is known,and a large display of strength was considered useless."

  "In that case, then, you think we have a chance?"

  "Men have one always, when they do not give in," the Canadian repliedsententiously.

  "How many are there, at a guess?"

  "I will give you their exact number, for I have counted them to thelast man. The first detachment, the one ambushed behind us, has onlytwelve men."

  "What," the count exclaimed, "do you not consider that large odds?"

  "Hang it," the Canadian said simply, "you do not reflect that we areseven palefaces."

  The count shook his head, feeling but little convinced by suchreasoning.

  "Go on," he said; "and the second detachment, the one ahead of us?"

  "That is more numerous: it is composed of nineteen warriors, among whomI recognized several picked braves, from the wolf tails they wore ontheir heels."

  "iCaramba!" the count exclaimed with ill-disguised terror, "Thirty-onewarriors in all, and yet you do not consider them too many for sevenmen!"

  "I do not know whether thirty warriors are too many for seven men," theCanadian answered dryly; "all I can say is, that my friend Moonshineand myself have frequently fought a larger number of redskins inpositions worse than our present one. Ah! if Moonshine were here, Ipromise you I should need nobody's
help to free us from this vermin."

  The Canadian's language produced an amazing effect on the minds of theSpaniards.

  "Listen to me," he continued; "make haste and form some resolution;time presses, I warn you, and flight is impossible. As for me, do nottrouble yourselves, for I can always manage to get out of a scrape. Youhave the choice of two things, defend yourselves bravely or surrenderwithout a blow; in the former case, you have a chance of escape, or,at the most, of being killed; in the second, you will be inevitablyattached to the war stake, and you know with what diabolical art theredskins torture white men who fall into their hands."

  "Our choice is not doubtful," the count answered boldly; "we willdefend ourselves."

  "Good," said the Canadian, "that is speaking like a man."

  "The only thing is, we do not know what we ought to do in order to sellour lives as dearly as possible."

  The Canadian appeared to reflect.

  "Well," he said, a moment later, "I must not conceal anything fromyou, your salvation depends, not only on your resolution, but also onthe skill with which you fight your enemies. The redskins are cunning,and it is by cunning alone that you will be able to conquer them. Now,although your situation is critical, I do not consider it desperate;but there must be no hesitation or false steps, which would prove yourruin."

  "We, and I the first, place ourselves under your orders, senor," saidthe count; "from this moment you are our chief, and whatever youcommand, we will do."

  "Is that really the case?" he said, gladly; "Well then, set your mindsat rest. These red devils, clever as they are, have not got us yet,and with God's help we will give them a tough job to get hold of ourscalps."

  At no great distance from the spot where the travellers had halted,the stream to which we have alluded formed a rather sharp curve, inconsequence of a mass of lofty rocks which almost completely barredits course. These rocks, though belonging to the mainland, advancedalmost into the centre of the river bed, which they commanded for someforty yards, piled up irregularly on one another, doubtless throughone of the earthquakes so frequent in this country. These rocks weresufficiently wide for twenty men to shelter themselves, and from thisposition command the narrow canyon. It was to this natural fortressthat the Canadian led his comrades, observing to the count that in thisposition they had no fear of being surrounded, and could, to a certainextent, make up for absent help.

  When they reached the line of rocks, an apparently insurmountableobstacle presented itself; this was to make the horses, which theywould not part from, cross the line of surf separating them from therocks. The Canadian dismounted and carefully examined the passage. Thenhe returned, and taking his horse by the bridle, led it with extremecare across this difficult passage. The animal laid back its ears,resisted, and snorted wildly; but its master, while speaking to it andpatting it, managed to lead it to the centre of a small esplanade,where it was protected on all sides against the Indian bullets andarrows. The Spaniards imitated the hunter's movements; so soon as thefirst horse had passed, the others, after some hesitation, followed it,and soon found themselves by the side of the Canadian's.

  "Good," said the adventurer, rubbing his hands; "let the redskins comenow and we will give them the reception they deserve."

  Still he did not consider himself sufficiently safe yet behind thesenatural defences, and, helped by his comrades, he actively beganraising a barricade with trees and lumps of rock, so as to form a sortof parapeted wall behind which it was possible to fire without showingthemselves.

  "Now," he said to the Spaniards, as he calculated the height of thesun, "it is five o'clock. The Indians, who although invisible, have notlost one of our movements, will not attack us before nightfall; that isto say, we have two hours before us to rest and eat our supper. Do notbe afraid about lighting a fire; our enemies are perfectly acquaintedwith our position. Hence, we have no need to hide ourselves. Still, twoof you will carefully watch the bank, while two others collect dry woodand cut grass for the horses."

  The order was immediately executed. The Canadian then sat down, quietlylit his pipe, and made the count a sign to follow his example.

  "Now, senor," he said to him, "you see that every precaution has beenmade for a vigorous defence."

  "Yes," the count kindly replied, "and with a skill and promptness whichI cannot sufficiently admire."

  "Nonsense, it is only habit. I suppose your soldiers are brave?"

  "As lions."

  "Very good. Are they good shots?"

  "They are far from equalling you, still they possess considerableskill."

  "In a word they will do their best, and we can expect no more from aman. But I have another and more serious question to ask you. Have youammunition?"

  "Hang it. That is the thing which annoys me. My men have only sixtyrounds apiece."

  "Come, come, we are richer than I believed; I have about one hundredcharges."

  "And I the same," the count interrupted.

  "In that case, if we have provisions enough to hold out for two days,we are saved."

  "As for food, the two mules are loaded with it."

  "Bravo, senor," the Canadian shouted joyously; "we have nothing more tofear now, so banish all anxiety."

  "I really do not know how to requite the devotion you display to aperson who is a stranger to you, and who can inspire you with but veryslight interest."

  "Are you not a man?" the Canadian replied. "That is enough for me. Onthe desert we are all brothers. You have a claim to my protection, as Ihave to yours. And besides, must I not defend my scalp."

  "Good, good," the count said with a smile, "the day may perhaps comefor me to prove my gratitude to you."

  "Not a word about that, if you wish to cause me pleasure. And stay.Supper is ready, let us eat, for we must recruit our strength for thejob which awaits us tonight."

  They rose and joined the soldiers who were seated round the fire andeating with good appetite. By this time the sun had descended behindthe lofty mountains, and night was at hand; the cloudless sky wasbegemmed by an infinite number of stars which were reflected in thesilvery mirror of the stream; the coming breeze soughed softly throughthe branches, bringing with it the penetrating odours of the plants andflowers.

  "Lie down, all of you," the Canadian said in a tone that admitted ofno reply, "and sleep, so that you may be fresh for work when the hourarrives. I will keep watch for all, as your eyes would see nothing inthe gloom."

  "I will watch with you," said the count, "I feel that it would beimpossible for me to sleep."

  "Very good, senor."

  Both then stationed themselves in a natural embrasure formed by tworocks coming close together, and began their watch, during which theCanadian carefully surveyed the river bank.