CHAPTER VII.
THE HILL OF THE MAD BUFFALO.
About an hour before sunrise, Stanapat aroused his warriors, and gavethem orders to march. The Apaches seized their weapons, formed in Indianfile, and at a signal from their chief, entered the chaparral thatseparated them from the rock held by the white hunters. Although thedistance was only two leagues, the march of the Apaches lasted more thanan hour; but it was carried out with so much prudence, that the hunters,despite the watch they kept up, in no way suspected that their enemieswere so near them. The Apaches halted at the foot of the rock, andStanapat ordered the camp to be formed at once.
The Indians, when they like, can draw up their lines very fairly. Thistime, as they intended to carry on a regular siege, they neglected noprecautions. The hill was surrounded by a ditch three yards wide andfour deep, the earth of which, thrown up, formed a breastwork, behindwhich the Apaches were perfectly sheltered, and could fire withoutshowing themselves. In the centre of the camp, two huts or _callis_ wereerected, one for the chiefs, the other intended for the council lodge.Before the entrance of the latter, the totem or emblem of the tribe, andthe sacred calumet were hung up.
We will explain here what these two emblems are, which several writershave mentioned, though not described, but which it is very important toknow, if a desire is felt to study Indian manners. The totem, or_kukevium_, is the national standard, the distinctive mark of eachtribe. It is supposed to represent the patron animal of the tribe;coyote, jaguar, buffalo, etc., each tribe having its own; in thisinstance it was a white buffalo. The totem is a long staff, decoratedwith feathers of various colours, which are fastened perpendicularly fromtop to bottom. This standard is only carried by the principal chief ofthe tribe.
The calumet is a pipe, whose tube is four, six, even ten feet long; thelatter is sometimes round, but more frequently flat. It is adorned withpainted animals, hair, porcupine quills, or birds of brilliant colours.The bowl is usually of red or white marble; when the stone is of darkcolour, it is painted white before using. The calumet is sacred: it wasgiven to the Indians by the sun, and for that reason must never bepolluted by contact with the ground.
In bivouacs, it is suspended between two cross poles fixed in the earth.The pipe bearer is regarded as heralds were formerly among ourselves:his person is inviolable. He is generally a renowned warrior of thetribe, whom a wound received in action has rendered incapable of furtherfighting.
The sun rose at the moment when the Apaches completed theirentrenchments. The whites, in spite of their bravery, felt a shudder ofterror run over their bodies when they found themselves thus invested onall sides. The more so, as by the dim light of breaking day they couldsee on the distant horizon several bands of warriors advancing fromdifferent points.
"Hum!" said Valentine, with a toss of his head, "It will be a sharpfight."
"Do you consider our situation a bad one?" the general asked him.
"Detestable."
"_Canarios!_" said General Ibanez: "We are lost in that case."
"Yes," the hunter answered, "unless a miracle occur."
"_Caspita_, what you say is not at all reassuring, my good fellow. Then,in your opinion, there is no hope?"
"Yes," Valentine answered, "one chance is left us."
"What is it?" the general asked quickly.
"That the man who is being hanged feels--the rope may break."
The general shrugged his shoulders.
"Reassure yourself," the hunter said, still in a sarcastic tone; "itwill not break, I warrant you."
"That is the fine consolation you offer me," the general said in a tone,half of joke, half of annoyance.
"Hang it, what would you have? It is all I can offer you at this moment;but," he added, suddenly changing his accent, "all this does notprohibit our breakfasting, I suppose."
"On the contrary," the general answered, "for I declare I have aferocious appetite, which, I assure you, has not been the case for along time."
"To table, then," Valentine exclaimed with a laugh; "we have not amoment to lose if we wish to breakfast in peace."
"Are you sure of the fact?"
"Never mind, what can't be cured must be endured; and so to breakfastwith what appetite you may."
The three men then proceeded to a leaf hut built up against MadBuffalo's tomb, and, as they had said, made a hearty breakfast; perhaps,as the general asserted, it was because the sight of the Apaches had putthem in a good temper. In the meanwhile, Stanapat, who had alreadyformed his camp, hastened to send couriers in every direction, to havenews of his allies as speedy as possible. The latter soon appeared,accompanied by the players of chichikouis and drummers. These warriorswere at least five hundred in number, all handsome and well built,clothed in rich dresses, splendidly armed, and offering to prejudicedeyes the most frightful sight imaginable. The chief who arrived withthis large party was Black Cat.
We will explain in a few words the arrival of this chief with his tribeamong the Apache brothers--an arrival which may seem extraordinary,after the part he had played in the attack on the squatter's camp. RedCedar had been surprised by the hunters at midnight, and his camp was atonce fired by the assailants. The earthquake had so thoroughlycomplicated the situation, that none of the gambusinos perceived BlackCat's treachery, who, for his part, so soon as he had pointed out theposition of the gambusinos, confined himself to sending his warriorsahead, while himself remaining with the rear guard, so as not tocompromise himself, and be able to play the part that suited him best atthe right moment. His trick was most perfectly successful; thegambusinos, attacked on all sides simultaneously, had only dreamed ofdefending themselves as well as they could, having no time to perceiveif deserters from their allies were in the ranks of their enemies. HenceBlack Cat was heartily welcomed by Stanapat, who was delighted at thehelp that reached him.
During the course of the day other bands entered the camp in turn, sothat at sunset nearly fifteen hundred redskin warriors were collected atthe foot of the rock, and the hunters were completely invested. Themovements of the Indians soon made them comprehend that they did notintend to retire till they had reduced them.
The Indians are the shortest-sighted men in the world; and at the end oftwo days, as the state of things must be remedied, a grand buffalo huntwas organised. At daybreak, thirty-five hunters, under the orders ofBlack Cat, left the camp, crossed the wood, and entered the prairie.After a rapid ride of two hours, they forded the Little Tortoise River,on the banks of which they halted to let their horses breathe. Duringthis halt they lit a _bois de vache_ fire, at which they cooked theirbreakfast, and then set out again. At midday they examined the plainstretching out at their feet, from the top of a hill; they saw, at aconsiderable distance, several small herds of buffalo, each consistingof four or six male buffaloes, peaceably grazing.
The hunters cocked their guns, went down into the plain, and made aregular charge against these clumsy animals, which can run, however,very fast. Each soon started in pursuit of the buffalo nearest to him.
The buffaloes at times assume the offensive, and pursue in their turnthe hunters for twenty to five-and-twenty yards; but it is easy to avoidthem; so soon as they perceive the futility of pursuit, they fly intheir turn. The Indians and half-breeds are so accustomed to this chaseon horseback, that they rarely require more than one shot to kill abuffalo. When they fire they do not shoulder the piece, but, on thecontrary, stretch out both arms to their full extent; so soon as theyare about ten paces from the animal, they fire in this position, thenreload with incredible speed, for they do not ram the ball home withwadding, but let it fall directly on the powder to which it adheres, asthey have previously held it in their mouths, and fire again at once.
Through this uncommon speed, the Indians produced in a short time aperfect massacre among the buffaloes; sixty-eight of these animals werekilled in less than two hours, Black Cat having brought down eleven ashis share. The buffaloes were cut up and loaded on horses brought forthe purpose, then t
he hunters returned gaily to camp, conversing aboutall the singular or dramatic incidents of the hunt, with all the Indianvivacity. Thanks to this expedition, the Apaches were provisioned for along time.
A short distance from the camp, the Indians perceived a rider comingtoward them at full speed. Black Cat ordered a halt, and waited; it wasevident that the person arriving thus could only be a friend, and anydoubts were speedily dispelled. The Apaches recognised White Gazelle. Wehave said elsewhere that the Indians were much attached to this girl;they received her very graciously, and led her to Black Cat, whoremained motionless till she joined him. The chief examined her for amoment attentively.
"My daughter is welcome," he said; "does she ask hospitality of theApaches?"
"No, chief; I have come to join them against the palefaces, as I havedone before," she replied, boldly; "besides, you know it as well as Ido," she added.
"Good!" the chief continued; "we thank my daughter; her friends areabsent, but we expect to see within a few hours Red Cedar and theLong-knives of the East."
A shade of dissatisfaction covered the girl's forehead; but she at oncerecovered, and ranged her horse by the side of the chief's, sayingcarelessly--
"Red Cedar can come when he likes--it does not concern me. Am I not afriend of the Apaches?"
"That is true," the Indian said, with a bow; "will my sister set out?"
"Whenever you please, chief."
The hunters started again at a gallop; an hour later, they entered thecamp, where they were received with shouts of joy from the Apachewarriors. Black Cat ordered a calli to be prepared for the girl; then,after visiting the sentries, and listening to the reports of the scouts,he sat down near the tree, at the foot of which White Gazelle had thrownherself, to reflect on the new duties imposed on her by the engagementsinto which she had entered with Bloodson.
"My daughter is sad," the old chief said, as he lit his pipe by the aidof a long wand, adorned with feathers, and painted of different colours;for, with that superstition natural to some Indians, he felt persuadedthat if he once touched fire with his hands he would die on the spot.
"Yes," the girl answered, "my heart is gloomy; a cloud has spread overmy mind."
"My sister must console herself: he whom she has lost will be avenged."
"The palefaces are strong," she said, looking at him fixedly.
"Yes," the chief replied, "the whites have the strength of a grizzlybear, but the Indians have the craft of the beaver; my sister can feelreassured, her enemies will not escape her."
"Does my father know it?"
"Black Cat is one of the great sachems of his tribe, nothing is hiddenfrom him. At this moment all the pirates of the prairie, joined by thehalf-breeds, are advancing to surround the rock which serves as a refugeto the great pale warrior; tomorrow, perhaps, six thousand redskinwarriors will be here. My sister can, therefore, see that her vengeanceis assured; unless the palefaces fly through the air, or plunge into thewaters, which cannot happen--they are lost."
The young girl made no reply; not thinking of the chief, whose piercingeye was fixed on her, she rose and began walking up and down in greatagitation.
"Oh Heavens!" she said in a low voice, "They are lost! Oh, why am I buta woman, and can do nothing for them? How can they be saved?"
"What does my sister say? Has the Wacondah troubled her mind?" the chiefasked her, as he stood before her, and laid a hand on her shoulder.
The Spaniard looked at him for a moment, then let her head fall in herhands, muttering in a choking voice,--
"Oh, Heavens! I am mad."
Black Cat took a searching glance around, and then bent down to thegirl's ear.
"My sister must follow me," he said, in a firm and significant voice.
White Gazelle raised her head, and looked at him; the chief laid afinger, on his lip, as if to recommend silence to her, and, turning hisback, entered the wood. The girl followed him anxiously, and they walkedon thus tor some minutes. At length they reached the top of a mounddenuded of trees, where the eye could survey all around. Black Catstopped and made the girl a sign to approach him.
"Here we can talk; let my sister speak; my ears are open."
"What can I say that my father does not know?" the girl replied,suspiciously.
"My sister wishes to save the palefaces, is it not so?"
"Well, yes," she said, with exaltation; "for reasons I cannot tell you,these men, who, a few days back, were hateful to me, have become dear tome; today I would save them at the peril of my life."
"Yes," the old man said, as if speaking to himself, "women are so; likethe leaves the wind carries off, their mind changes its direction withthe slightest breath of passion."
"Now you know my secret," she continued boldly, "I do not care abouthaving discovered it to you; act as you think proper, but no longercount on me."
"On the contrary," the Apache replied with his sardonic smile, "I counton you more than ever."
"What do you mean?"
"Well," Black Cat continued, after taking a searching glance around, andletting his voice drop, "I wish to save them too."
"You?"
"I. Did not the pale chief enable me to escape the death that awaited mein the Comanche village? Did he not share with me as a brother thefirewater of his gourd, to give me strength to sit my horse, and rejointhe warriors Of my tribe? Black Cat is a great chief. Ingratitude is awhite vice; gratitude is a red virtue. Black Cat will save his brother."
"Thanks, chief," said the girl, as she pressed the old man's rough handsin hers; "thanks for your kindness. But, alas, time is slipping awayrapidly, dawn will be here in a few hours, and perhaps we shall notsucceed."
"Black Cat is prudent," the chief replied, "my sister must listen; but,in the first place, she may be glad to warn her friends that she iswatching over them."
White Gazelle smiled in response; the Indian whistled in a peculiarfashion, and Sunbeam made her appearance.
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