Part 10 (1/2)
”Only a jaguar searching for prey,” coolly responded Costal.
”Oh!” said the dragoon, ”is that all? I was fancying it might be something more fearful.”
”Your shortest route, then, lies that way,” said Costal, resuming his directions, and pointing with his gun towards the spot where the howl of the tiger had been heard.
”Thank you!” said the horseman, gathering up his reins, and heading his horse to the path. ”If that is the shortest, I shall take it.”
”Stay!” said Costal, approaching a little nearer, and speaking with more cordiality than he had yet shown.
”_Oigate, senor cavallero_! A brave man like you does not need to be warned of every danger; but one ought to be informed of the dangers one must meet.”
Don Rafael checked his horse.
”Speak, friend,” said he; ”I shall not listen to you ungratefully.”
”To reach from here the hacienda of Las Palmas,” continued Costal, ”without going astray, or making detours, be careful always to keep the moon to your left, so that your shadow may be thrown on the right--a little slanting--just as you are at this moment. Moreover, when you have started, never draw bridle till you have reached the house of Don Mariano de Silva. If you meet a ditch, or brake, or ravine, cross them in a direct line, and don't attempt to go round them.”
The Indian gave these directions in so grave a tone of voice, and with such solemnity of manner, that Don Rafael was struck with surprise.
”What frightful danger is it that threatens me?” he inquired at length.
”A danger,” replied Costal, ”compared with which that of all the tigers that ever howled over these plains is but child's play--the danger of the _inundation_! Perhaps before an hour has pa.s.sed, it will come sweeping over these savannas like a foaming sea. The _arriero_ and his mules, as well as the shepherd and his flocks, will be carried away by its flood, if they don't succeed in reaching the shelter of that very hacienda where you are going. Ay! the very tigers will not escape, with all their swiftness.”
”I shall pay strict attention to the directions you have given me,” said the officer--once more about to ride off--when just then he remembered his fellow-traveller whom he had left on the road.
In a few hurried words he made known to the Indian the situation of the young student of theology.
”Make your mind easy about him,” replied the latter. ”We shall bring him to the hacienda to-morrow, if we find him still alive. Think only of yourself, and those who might bewail your death. If you meet the jaguars don't trouble yourself about them. Should your horse refuse to pa.s.s them, speak to him. If the brutes come too near you, let them hear you as well. The human voice was given us to procure respect, which it will do from the most ferocious of animals. The whites don't know this--because fighting the tiger is not their trade, as it is that of the red man; and I can tell you an adventure of this kind that I once had with a jaguar--Bah; he's gone!”
The last exclamatory phrases were drawn from the speaker, on perceiving that the horseman, instead of staying to listen to his tale of adventure, had put spurs to his horse, and suddenly ridden away.
In another instant he was beyond earshot, galloping over the moonlit plain in the direction of the hacienda Las Palmas.
”Well!” cried Costal, as he stood gazing after him, ”he's a frank brave fellow, and I should be very sorry if any mischance were to happen to him. I was not pleased about his interrupting us. It was a pity, to be sure; but after all, had I been in his place I should have done just as he did. Never mind,” he added, after a pause, ”all is not over--we shall find another opportunity.”
”Hum!” said Clara, ”I think the sooner we get out of the neighbourhood of these tigers the better for our skins. For my part, I've had enough adventure for one day.”
”Bah! still frightened about the tigers! For shame, Clara! Look at this young man, who never saw a jaguar in his life; and heeds them no more than so many field mice. Come along!”
”What have we to do now?”
”The spirit of the waters,” replied Costal, ”does not show herself in the cascade alone. She appears also to those who invoke her with the conch, amidst the yellow waves of the inundation. To-morrow we may try again.”
”What about the young fellow whom the officer has recommended to our care?”
”We shall go to look after him in the morning. Meanwhile, we must have some rest ourselves. Let us climb out of the ravine, and carry the canoe up to the summit of the _Cerro de la Mesa_. There we shall sleep tranquilly, without fear either of floods or jaguars.”
”That's just the thing,” said Clara, his black face brightening up at the prospect of a good night's rest. ”To say the truth, friend Costal, I'm tired enough myself. Our gymnastics up yonder, on the _ahuehuetes_, have made every bone in my body as sore as a blister.”
And as the two _confreres_ ended their dialogue, they stepped briskly forward, and were soon at the top of the precipitous path that led up from the ravine.