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

by Gustave Aimard

  CHAPTER XX.

  SOTAVENTO MAKES A MOVE.

  We will now go back a little way, and return to one of our characters,whose part has hitherto been secondary, but whom events suddenly placealmost in the first rank. In one of the preceding chapters we recountedhow Sotavento, concealed in a closet, overheard Count de Melgosa'sconversation with Don Anibal, and then with Father Pelagio Sandoval.When these three gentlemen had left the room, the worthy majordomo lefthis hiding place, revolving in his brain projects whose result we shallsoon witness.

  Sotavento enjoyed his master's entire confidence. His employment asmajordomo frequently compelled his absence from the house at all hoursof the day and night, hence, instead of hiding his departure, it was aneasy matter for him to leave the hacienda openly, and he often remainedabsent for days, while nobody dreamed of asking him to account for hisconduct.

  At the haciendas, the majordomo is generally entrusted with theinspection of the _capatases_ and _caporales_, who govern the peonsguarding the horses and cattle on the vast dependencies of the estate;we say vast, because they frequently extend for a radius of fiveand twenty or thirty leagues round the hacienda. This surveillanceis the more necessary because the vaqueros, left almost entirely tothemselves, do not scruple to kill the oxen for the sake of sellingthe hides, or allow travellers to carry off the best horses in themanada for a trifling sum; all which, as may be supposed, is highlyprejudicial to the interests of the owner.

  Sotavento, after leaving the closet, went to the corral, lassoed hishorse, saddled and led it into the patio. At the moment when he wasabout leaving the hacienda, he found himself face to face with hismaster, who, after leading his guest to the apartment prepared for him,was returning to take part in the conference of the conspirators.

  "Are you going out, Sotavento?"

  "Yes, mi amo," the latter answered; "I was informed this morning thatseveral tigers have been seen in the Bajio de los Pinos, and that theyhave already caused great ravages among the ganado. I am going myselfto see that the tigreros are about, and why they have not yet freed thecountry from these ferocious brutes, which are the more formidablebecause shearing time and the matanza del ganado are close at hand."

  "That is true. I cannot understand the negligence of our tigreros, andyet, I think, they are paid handsomely for each jaguar skin?"

  "Fifteen piastres, Excellency."

  "Pray, Sotavento, do not spare the rascals, but treat them as theydeserve. It is really scandalous that, being paid so well, they displaysuch negligence in the performance of their duty."

  "Your Excellency can trust to me."

  "I know, my friend," the hacendero answered kindly, "how thoroughly youare devoted to me. When do you intend to return, for we shall want youhere?"

  "I know that, Excellency, and hence I shall make haste. Still, as Imust pass by the Cerro Azul, on my homeward route, to have a look atthe large wood felling you have ordered, I cannot be back till tomorrownight, or the next morning at the latest."

  "Well, my friend, act for the best. I trust entirely to you."

  Sotavento bowed to his master, who entered the house, and immediatelyquitted the hacienda. The day was nearly spent, the declining sun onlyemitted oblique rays, which were almost devoid of heat. The majordomofollowed for some time and at a moderate pace the route to the Bajiode los Pinos, but when the hacienda had disappeared behind a thickbelt of trees, and the horseman no longer feared being watched by anycurious person who had remained on the walls to notice his movements,he stopped, looked suspiciously around to make sure that he was reallyalone, bent over his horse's neck to catch the slightest sound thatmight strike his ear, and remained motionless for several minutes.

  It is especially in the great American forests that our Europeanproverb, with a slight modification, is perfectly applicable. We maysay that the trees have ears, and the leaves eyes. The wood rangersare well aware of this; hence, unless they are at an entirely openspot, they generally speak low in monosyllables, or substitute signsfor language. As for the mode of travelling in the forests, we havedescribed it too often to require to dwell on it here.

  This time Sotavento was alone. He saw nothing suspicious, and noextraordinary sound reached his ear. We purposely employ the expression"extraordinary sound," because, to a man accustomed to a forest life,all sounds have a meaning which he thoroughly knows, and about whichhe is never mistaken. Thus he can recognize the sighing of the windamong the leaves, the motion of the branch touched by a bird, themurmur of invisible water over pebbles, the rustling of a bush, or theundulation of the tall grass owing to the passage of wild beast; thebuzzing of the mosquitoes over a pool, as well as many other soundstoo numerous to mention here, such as the rolling of a stone detachedfrom a mountain, or the footstep of a man on the dry leaves. Thisscience, which it is difficult to learn thoroughly, requires sustainedattention, lengthened experience, and, above all, well-tried patience,qualities only possessed by the redskins and white men who have givenup civilized life to lead a desert existence.

  The majordomo, certain that he had no espionage to dread, drew himselfup, settled down on his saddle, and whispered to his horse the oneword "Santiago," which, in the Spanish language, serves to excite asteed. He started at full speed, holding slightly to his right andinsensibly approaching the river, whose yellow waters ran a shortdistance off between two low and sandy banks. On reaching the bank,the majordomo rode along it for two or three leagues, examining theground with the most scrupulous attention, and apparently seeking somesign which he was unable to discover. At length he halted, and, aftera momentary hesitation, entered the river and crossed it obliquely,having the water only up to his horse's chest in the deepest part.What the majordomo so long sought, and at length found, was a ford.Under other circumstances it is probable that Sotavento would not havehesitated to make his horse swim the river, but this time he had a longdistance to go, and wished to save the animal's strength.

  So soon as he reached the opposite bank, he started again at a gallop,continuing to follow the river, and rapidly proceeding toward a forestwhich stood out on the horizon. On crossing the river, Sotavento hadentered the territory of the independent Indians, which fact, however,did not appear at all to trouble him; on the contrary, his demeanourbecame bolder, and his eye was lit up with a savage gleam. The sundisappeared in a gold and purple mist at the moment when Sotaventoreached the forest, which he entered without checking his horse's pace.

  At length, after a ride which went on thus at a tremendous pace forat least four hours, the majordomo reached the foot of a rock coveredwith lichen and green moss, which stood alone in the centre of aconsiderable clearing, probably made by the redskins during theirhunting excursions, in order to procure game more rapidly. This burningmust have been recent, for the earth retained a black hue, and tracesof fire were still visible all around.

  Sotavento halted. Nothing checked the view for three or four leaguesround, but all was bare and gloomy. Still the majordomo had nointention of stopping at this place, for, after allowing his horseto breathe for ten minutes, he whistled to it and started again at agallop. This time he did not ride for more than three hours, but hishorse was worn out and stumbled at every step. It was covered withperspiration, a thick steam escaped from its nostrils which dilatedconvulsively, and it panted fearfully. The majordomo was as cool andcalm as when he left the hacienda. This man was of iron; neitherfatigue nor heat had any power over him. For about an hour he had beenriding in the darkness along scarcely traced paths, on which he guidedhimself as easily as if walking about the streets of a town in broaddaylight. He at last reached a spacious clearing, where he halted anddismounted. His horse was scarce able to stand on its trembling limbs.The majordomo gave it a glance of pity.

  "Poor Negro!" he muttered, as he patted it gently, "You are almostfoundered."

  He took off the bridle and raised the stirrups, but, before he left thehorse at liberty to seek its forage, he carefully rubbed it down, andthen gave it a gentle blow, saying-- />
  "Go and rest, my good beast."

  The animal rubbed its intelligent head against its master's shoulder,gave a glad neigh, and bounded off. The majordomo remained pensive fora moment, then crossing the clearing, he entered the forest with arapid step, but at the same time so light that the most practised earcould not have caught the sound he produced in treading the ground.After walking in this way for a few minutes, the majordomo entereda thicket, and raising two fingers of each hand to his mouth, hethrice imitated the cry of the owl with such perfection, that thebirds perched above his head fled away in terror. Almost immediatelya similar cry answered him a short distance off. Sotavento, withoutwaiting any longer, quitted the thicket that sheltered him. A man rosebefore him. This man, as far as was possible to distinguish in thedarkness, was an Indian. Sotavento was not at all surprised by thissudden apparition, which he probably expected. The Indian stood gloomy,and silent before him.

  "Does not my brother bid me welcome?" Sotavento said to him in theComanche dialect.

  "The Stag knows," the Indian answered, "that his brothers are delightedto see him. Why, then say useless things?"

  "Where is the tribe encamped at this moment?"

  "Does not my brother see the yellow leaves falling? The Red Buffaloeshave withdrawn to their winter village."

  "I thought so; that is why I pushed on here, instead of halting at theburnt clearing."

  "My brother acted wisely."

  "Are not the chiefs upon an expedition?"

  "No, all the warriors and braves are assembled at the village."

  "Good."

  "Will not my brother accompany me to the chiefs?"

  "I will follow my brother."

  "The Stag can come then."

  Without waiting for the majordomo's answer, the Indian turned away, andbegan walking at such a pace that any man but the one who accompaniedhim would doubtless have had great difficulty in keeping up withhim. Sotavento soon saw the village watch fires gleaming through thetrees, and a few minutes later found himself with his guide among theirregular rows of huts. On seeing him, the women and children flockedup to him with cries of joy, and gave him unequivocal signs of sincerefriendship. The majordomo briefly returned the congratulations offeredhim, and, followed by the crowd, proceeded to the council lodge, wherethe chiefs were still assembled, in spite of the lateness of the hour.

  On setting foot in the village, Sotavento, so to speak, underwent acomplete metamorphosis, all in him suddenly changed; and had it notbeen for his clothing, nobody would have taken him for a Mexican.He walked up to the entrance of the council lodge, where he stoodrespectfully waiting till he was addressed. The chiefs were smoking,gravely seated round a fire, whose flame played on their faces, and litthem up with fantastic reflections. The Indian who had acted as guideto the majordomo entered the lodge, and said a few words in a low voice.

  "The Stag is the cherished son of the tribe," a grave voice replied;"the omnipotent Wacondah protects him; his presence among us is alwayshailed with joy. We heard the cries of the squaws and children who badehim welcome. Let him take the seat reserved for him at the councilfire. What do my brothers, the sachems, say?"

  The other chiefs bowed their heads in the affirmative, and Sotaventowalked in, sat down, crossed his arms on his chest, and waited silentlytill his turn arrived to take part in the discussion.

  "My brother White Crow will proceed," the chief who had already spokensaid.

  "Yes," White Crow said, doubtless concluding a speech which had beeninterrupted by Sotavento's arrival, "the information obtained by ourhunters is positive; the Pawnee Loups have made a great expedition,and carried off many horses. We are in want of horses. The Pawnees areencamped two suns' distance at the most from our village; why should wenot go and take from them the horses we require? I have spoken; let mybrothers reflect."

  Another chief said--

  "Our young men require to be trained; few warriors of our tribe arereported good horse thieves. White Crow's medicine is good; hisexpeditions always succeed. Let him choose among our young men thosewhom he considers worthy to accompany him, and carry off the horses ofthe Pawnees, which we shall soon need for our great buffalo hunts. Ihave spoken."

  "What is the opinion of the chiefs?" the sachem continued.

  "Let Running Water give his first," White Crow said, "for he is theoldest sachem of the tribe."

  Running Water rose.

  "Be it so," he said, "I will speak. The news brought by White Crow isgood; we really want horses for our great winter hunts. At any othermoment I should have said, go and seize the Pawnee horses; ten minutesago I should have expressed that opinion, but now I cannot possiblydo so. My brothers do not reflect that my son, the Stag, has justarrived at the village; the distance is great from the stone lodge ofthe white men to the villages of the Red Buffaloes; my son would notundertake so long a journey without serious motives. Let us suspend ourdiscussion for a few moments; defer the decision as to the advisabilityof the projected expedition; smoke the grand sacred calumet filled withmoriche, and listen to the words of my son. His tongue is not forked,and, perhaps, he has important news to give us. I have spoken."

  The chiefs bowed in silence, and White Crow, answering for all, saidthat the sachem's advice was good, and that, before coming to adecision about the expedition against the Pawnees, the council wouldlisten to the news which the Stag doubtless had to communicate. Thegreat sacred calumet was then, brought in with all the usual ceremonieson such occasions; it was filled with sacred tobacco, and lit by thehelp of a medicine rod. When it had gone the round, Running Waterturned to Sotavento--

  "The ears of the chiefs of the tribe are open," he said to him; "theStag can speak."

  The majordomo bowed respectfully to the sachem, and rose in the midstof a general silence.