by Mayne Reid
CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.
GUIDED BY A RENEGADE.
For some seconds there was silence in our midst. It was the silence ofmen who have nothing to say to one another.
There was no need for any one to explain what had passed. All saw, andtoo clearly, that we had been chicaned; and that the wretched curs whohad "sold" us, were as completely beyond our reach, as if twenty mileslay between us and them!
To be convinced of this, we had only to look down to the bottom of the_barranca_--sheer fifty feet, before the eye rested on the white frothflakes gliding below!
It was superfluous in Sam Brown to tell us, there was no crossing for amile above or below. A glance at the twin cliffs, as they facedfrowningly towards each other, seemed to say: that they had parted inanger, not soon to come together again!
A mile in either direction meant as much as ten--ay, twenty, upon anordinary road. It meant the ruin of Mercedes!
"O God!" I exclaimed in my anguish, "is there no chance of our gettingacross?"
I was answered by the groaning of the torrent beneath my feet, and themaniac laugh of the eagle that soared majestically over my head--bothseeming to mock the impuissance of man.
"A thousand dollars!" I shouted out, loud enough to be heard by theremotest of my followers, "a thousand dollars to the man who can show away by which this chasm may be crossed!"
"_Por dios, caballero_!" replied a voice, coming from a quarter where itwas not expected. "For the tenth part of that pretty sum I'd be willingto pledge my soul: more especially, if by so doing I can redeem mybody."
The words were in Spanish. I turned in the direction whence came thevoice. I could see that it had proceeded from one of the prisoners, wehad taken in the first attack.
The speaker declared himself by endeavouring to struggle to his feet,and making other gestures to attract our attention.
I hastened towards him, and gave an order for his limbs to be set freeof their fastenings.
This was done.
"You know--?" I was about to ask.
"A way to get across the _quebrada_," said the brigand, interrupting me,"if you'll let me show it to you. I only stipulate--"
"Hang your stipulations!" interposed one of my men. "We'll shoot you,if you don't show it! Like a dog we'll shoot you!"
The rude rebuke, with which I punished the interference of my overzealous follower, had its effect upon the bandolero. It secured me hisconfidence--while strengthening his treasonous intention.
"Senor capitan," he said, "I perceive that you are a true caballero, andcan be trusted with a secret. How much, then, for taking you across? Iknow you're not in earnest about the thousand _pesos_. Say a hundred,and the thing's done. I don't bargain for my life. That, of course,will be part of the price I should claim for my services."
"Your life, and a thousand dollars, if within ten minutes you take us tothe other side!"
"Ten minutes!" answered the robber, reflectingly. "Ten! It's but shorttime to do it in. Say twenty, senor capitan?"
"Twenty, then--if it must be."
"Agreed! And don't suppose that I'm going to earn the reward withoutsome risk. _Carrambo_! I'm staking my life against it! _Silencio,senores_!" he continued in a commanding tone, "_Hay Moros en la costa_!I must listen a bit before it will be safe to proceed."
We had released the brigand from his ropes, and conducted him inside thehut.
As soon as he had entered it, he stole cautiously to the back door; and,placing himself behind one of the jambs, remained for some secondslistening.
I had given orders that no one should make a noise. There was noneheard except the hoarse cataract and the shrill _caracara_.
"_Esta bue no_!" he at length ejaculated. "The Moors are gone--thecoast is clear."
"It is?" I mechanically asked.
"_Sin duda, senor_. My _camarados_ have taken their departure. If youwish to cross to the other side there will be no danger now."
"We wish it! Quick! Show us the way!"
"_Nos vamos_!"
The bandit, stepping out upon the ledge--that served as a sort of sillto the back door of the cabin--knelt down upon it.
Misled by a former experience, I fancied he was going to offer up aprayer for the success of his treasonable enterprise!
I was undeceived, on seeing him glide gently over the edge.
I craned my head outward, and looked below.
He was already half-way down the cliff, suspended on the llianas thathad formed the swing bridge.
He was still rapidly descending.
In another score of seconds he had reached the base of the barranca;where a narrow shelf of rock afforded him footing by the stream.
On touching it, he stopped, looked upwards, and called out:--
"Hola! _senor capitan_! I've forgotten to tell you, that I requireassistance. I shall not be able to raise the _puente-hamaca_ myself.You must give me one of your men; or else one of my old _camarados_!"
"I know what he means," said the stage-driver, stepping forth as avolunteer, and stooping to take hold of the llianas. "Thar may betreezun in the skunk. I don't think thar is. But if there shed be,cap'n, jest keep a look out acrosst the gulley, an' give 'em plenty o'lead. I know enough o' your fellows, to feel sure they won't make ameal-sieve o' my carcass. Here goes for a bit o' gymnasticks!"
Before I could make reply to this extraordinary speech, Sam Brown haddisappeared below the level of the doorstep. When I next saw him, hewas standing on the ledge below, with the froth of the cataract cloutingup around his ankles!
CHAPTER FORTY.
THE CONSUMMATION.
Though by this time the sun was in the sky, it was still sombre darknessat the bottom of the barranca. I could barely distinguish the forms ofSam Brown and the brigand.
I was now convinced that the latter had no thought of treachery,--atleast as regarded us; and with his treason to his old comrades we hadnothing to do. That was an affair between him, and such conscience ashe possessed.
For a second or two, both stage-driver and salteador were out of sight.
When I next set eyes upon them, they were upon the opposite side of thestream--climbing up the escarpment of the cliff, by a zigzag path thatappeared to conduct to its summit.
A few minutes sufficed them for making the ascent; and then theyappeared at the place where the two men had stood, while cutting downthe bridge.
Shortly after I could see them hauling hand over hand--as if upon arope; and looking below, I observed the _puente-hamaca_ slowly ascendingabove the surface of the water.
Gently and gradually was it drawn up, till it hung like a hammock acrossthe chasm--just as we had seen it on first looking out of the hut.
A short interval elapsed; and then the voice of the bandit was heardcalling to us to come over.
"_Vengan ustedes_!" he cried, encouragingly. "You need have no fear.The _puente_ is perfectly safe. If you cross quickly you may yetovertake--"
I waited to hear no more. Whether the man meant treason or not, I wasdetermined to be on the other side; and, seizing hold of the _sipo_,which served as a sort of hand-rail, I scrambled across the chasm.
My comrades, agile as I, swarmed after me--two or three staying to keepguard over the captives already secured.
"Now, sir!" I said to the brigand, as soon as we had secured footingupon the opposite side, "You've earned your thousand dollars by showingus the way to get across. On the word of an American officer I promiseit shall be paid you; and another like sum if you guide us to the spotwhere I can find Torreano Carrasco."
I spoke with a serious air, and in a confidential tone--my confidencedesigned to tempt the cupidity of the brigand.
It was not misplaced. It produced the effect intended.
"_Bueno_!" replied he, with an assenting movement of the head; "It'sonly a step from here," he continued in a stage whisper. "Our captainthinks himself safe, because nobody--except one of ourselves--could havebrought you
over the quebrada. _Nos vamos_! In twenty minutes time youwill see your Mercedes."
My impatience to be off hindered me from questioning the guide about hislast speech; though it struck me as singular, he should know aught of myrelations with the captive of Carrasco. I had forgotten that therobber-chief had shouted across the chasm, loud enough to be heard byour prisoner.
"Forward!" was my hurried response, "Guide me to _her_, and you may makeyour own terms about money!"
What cared I for the vile dross, of which I had ten thousand dollars inmy keeping? True, it was not my own. It belonged to Don EusebioVilla-Senor. But had I not been intrusted with it for the ransom of hisdaughters? And was this not the way in which I was employing it?
The Mexican seemed to comprehend me, and with a clearness that leftnothing misunderstood. Willingly he led the way; and with equalwillingness was he followed by myself and comrades.
Our journey proved but a short one. After climbing a rocky ridge, wecame within sight of a forest-covered tract--lying just under the lineof the snow.
The guide pointed to it--saying that there we should find the man wewere in search of. There was a _rancho_ among the pines. On reachingit, we might make sure of seeing Carrasco!
This _rancho_ was the "head-quarters" of the _cuadrilla_--the cabin onthe cliff serving as a sort of outlying post, to be used only in casesof close pursuit. The _salteadores_ had but halted there, to wait forthe morning light--the more safely to make the passage of the swingbridge.
Their real rendezvous was the _rancho_--a large house in the heart ofthe pine-forest, where the renegade assured us we would find his chief,his comrades, and their captives.
"Lead on!" I cried, roused to renewed energy at thought of the last."A hundred _pesos_ for every minute spared. On! on!"
Without another word the Mexican struck off among the trees, thesergeant treading close upon his tracks.
It was now broad daylight; but in five minutes after we were again intwilight darkness.
We had entered the pine-forest, and were travelling among trees whosestems stood thickly around us, and whose leafy boughs, interlockingoverhead, formed an umbrageous canopy scarcely penetrable by the sun.
The path led labyrinthine through the close-standing trunks, and stillmore deviously among those that had fallen.
Properly speaking there was no path; for our guide was conducting us bya route different from that usually taken by the _salteadores_. Thiswas to secure us against the chance of an ambuscade.
Unless the robbers had taken the precaution to throw out sentinels,there was not much danger of our approach being perceived; and thistheir _ci-devant_ comrade assured us was never done. He was confidentthat no picket would be placed: the _salteadores_ considering themselvessafe, after having crossed the _quebrada_.
Notwithstanding his assurance, we advanced with caution. It was not dueto me--too excited to care--but to the sergeant.
The latter kept close to the traitor, holding a cocked pistol to hisear--with the determination to shoot him down, should he show theslightest sign of a second treason!
The stage-driver betrayed no such concern. Better acquainted withMexican morals, he had full confidence in the fidelity of our guide; whohad but one motive for being false, and two thousand for proving true.
"Let him alone!" he muttered to the suspicious sergeant. "Leave him totake his own way. I'll go his bail for bringin' us out in the rightplace. If thar be any fluke, it won't be his fault. So long as hemeets nobody to promise _more_ than two thousand he'll be true; an' thatbid ain't like to be riz 'mong these here mountings. Leave the skunk tohimself. He'll take us whar we kin trap Carrasco."
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The conjecture of Sam Brown proved but partially true; though therenegade was not responsible for any part of its failure.
He did all in his power to earn the reward promised him, and in the endwas paid it. He had only stipulated to take me into the presence of therobber-chief; and to the letter was this stipulation carried out.
Through his agency I was brought face to face with Torreano Carrasco,and my comrades hand to hand with his _cuadrilla_ of _salteadores_.
Reader! I forbear to harrow your heart with a description of theconflict that followed. It was too sanguinary to be told to your gentleear, as it is too sad a _souvenir_, even for my remembrance.
Suffice it to say, that one-third of the faithful followers whoaccompanied me in that expedition, slept their last sleep on the coldsides of Ixticihuatl--the dark pines singing over them their eternalrequiem--that more than two-thirds of our outlawed antagonists wereslain at the same time; and that the rest--including their chief,--contrived to make their escape across the mountain.
I cared not so much for that, so long as Mercedes remained safe--and tome. She did so, and I was satisfied.
The _bandoleros_, taken by surprise, had no time either to conceal theircaptives, or hurry them out of the way. Each had enough to do inproviding for his own safety; and at the very first rush into the_rancho_ Mercedes became mine!
As she lay panting upon my breast, I felt like one who has long been inchase of some beautiful bird--fearing by a too close contact to ruffleits rich plumage--at length, enfolding it in his embrace, in the fullfaith of having a treasure from which he will never more be called uponto part!
It was the first time I had holden her in my arms--the first of ourexchanging speech--and yet it seemed to both of us like the renewal ofan old love, by some sinister chance long interrupted!
We talked, as if years had sanctified our affection; though a love likeours needs scarce an hour to carry it to the spring-tide of passion.
On the spot I called her Mercedes--_my_ Mercedes; while she in returngave me the endearing title of "querido!"
It was no longer "Querido Francisco!"
It cast no shadow over my joy, that Francisco survived that terriblenight; and, along with his Dolores, lived to complete the _marriagecommenced among the mountains_, and so ruthlessly interrupted.
I had the pleasure of being present at the crowning scene of theceremony. It came off in the Capital--in the quiet little church of theCapuchins--where Don Eusebio, instead of insisting upon his daughterbecoming _una novia del Cristo_, gave his consent to her being the brideof Francisco Moreno.
THE END.
