Gaspar the Gaucho: A Story of the Gran Chaco

by Mayne Reid

  CHAPTER FIFTY SIX.

  AN INFURIATED FEMALE.

  There is no mystery about Shebotha's disappearance nor aught out of theway save in the adroitness with which the aged crone contrived to effecther escape. Soon as touching the ground, and feeling herself free fromthe arms hitherto holding her on horseback, she has darted into theunderwood, and off; not even rising erect to her feet, but on all fours,and silently as a snake. For although the hillside is so thicklyovergrown with thorny scrub that a pointer would with difficulty quarterit, the supple old savage worms her way through, without making any morenoise than would a badger just got out of the barrel, and away from thedogs that have been baiting it.

  In her retreat, she does not proceed for any great distance in a directline, nor long continue crawling through the tangle of bushes. She isacquainted with every inch of that wooded slope, and all the pathstraversing it, even to the tiniest trace of bird or quadruped; and sooncoming into one of these, she at length stands upright. But not to staythere for any time, only long enough to give a glance to the right andleft, in order that she may assure herself as to which of the two shehad best take. Deciding in an instant, she is off again in crouchedattitude, but with the agility of youth itself. Up the hill she goes,back towards the Cemetery. And one who saw her ascending before seeingher now, would with difficulty believe it to be the same person. Then,however, she was taking it leisurely, with no particular call for hastenor the taxing of her strength; now there is a motive for her makingspeed, with every exertion in her power. Indeed, more than one; for sheis urged by two of the strongest passions that can agitate the humanbreast--cupidity and vengeance. While depriving her of her ghastlynecklace, Gaspar had taken the occasion to possess himself of the moreelegant and valuable ornaments stripped from the person of Nacena; notwith any thought to appropriate them to himself, but the intention ofrestoring them to their rightful owner, when the latter should re-appearto claim them. Coming back, and bringing with her the captive, theIndian 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 woodenstructures as one who knows every scaffold there, and whose bones aremouldering upon it.

  It is not from fear of being followed that she is now so hastening hersteps. She knows that they from whom she has escaped will not returnthither. For although hindered from hearing their conversation withNacena, and so becoming acquainted with their plans, if not fullycomprehending, she at least surmises them. For, having recognised thegaucho and his companions--all three of them--what purpose could theyhave there other than to release the paleface girl she has in hercharge? And from the fact of their having themselves released Nacena--let her go without further detention than would be required to come toan understanding--she concludes that this has been come to, and theIndian girl consented to aid them in their intended rescue. But it willnot be successful if she, Shebotha, can prevent it; and desperately benton doing so, she rushes on through the scaffolds, and down the road tothe _tolderia_, as if some danger threatened her from behind.

  Arriving by the door of her own hut, she utters an exclamation ofsurprise at not there seeing her slave. Still another, after havingcalled out his name, and received no answer. Her astonishment iscomplete and her rage at full height, when, having stepped up to thethreshold of the _toldo_, she sees there is no one inside. The beeswaxdip, burnt low and flickering in the socket, faintly lights up thehideous objects of her craft and calling; but shows no form of humanbeing!

  It is only a mechanical act her entering within the hut, and proceedingon to its inner apartment; for she is quite as sure it, too, will befound empty--as she finds it.

  Almost instantly returning to the door, she stands gazing out into thedarkness. Were there a light in front, her eyes would be seen to glarein their sunken sockets with the brightness of fire-balls; while in herbreast is burning the fury of a concentrated vengeance. Once again shecalls out the name of her slave, but as before getting no answer; andnow sure that he, too, has either betrayed her, or been himselfbetrayed, she glides silently out of the _toldo_, and off towards thatin which sleeps Aguara.

  Soon she reaches its door, which she finds wide open; for it is withinthe tropics, and the night is a warm one. Craning her head inside, andlistening 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 thehammock. "Who are these enemies you speak of? Who the traitors?"

  "You'll learn that in time, chief. It may be enough for you now toknow, that your paleface captive has escaped."

  "Escaped!" he cries out, bounding down upon the floor, and comingforward to the entrance. "The paleface escaped, you say? Are youspeaking 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, andwhither. Be quick!"

  In hurried phrase she recounts the incidents which have occurred to herand Nacena on the Cemetery Hill, adding her conjectures as to what mayhave transpired since, and may still be in the act of occurrence. Amongthese last are her suspicions, well founded as we know, that Kaolin'ssister has aided the paleface to escape; and that her own slave, whoshould have hindered, has not only connived at it, but taken himselfaway as well. In short, the cage is empty, and the bird with its keeperboth flown!

  What direction the fugitives have taken, is a question to which thesorceress can give answer without the need of any doubtful surmise orconjecture. She knows it as well as if she herself had appointed theplace of rendezvous, given by Gaspar to the Indian girl. For whileriding double with the gaucho, she had heard him speak of it to hiscompanions; heard, despite the poncho spread over her ears, the word_ceiba_, with others, which told of their intention to stay by thattree.

  The _cacique_ knows the noted spot, as well as Nacena herself, he toohaving oft played beneath its shade, or climbed up its grand trunk anddisported 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 andhappiness. Instead, wild with rage, and wretched as he is angry, hestays not to reflect at all; but hastily, and little better thanhalf-dressed, he rushes forth from his _toldo_, calling loudly for hishorse.

  Meanwhile, the sorceress has aroused others of the tribe; several ofwhom, 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 orattendant of any kind, he vaults upon the animal's back, and goes off ata gallop along the path, which, after turning around close to the hill,at about a mile's distance, farther on passes the _ceiba_ tree.