Part 60 (1/2)
”He would be three days in getting from Oajaca to the hacienda Del Valle; and if Don Rafael, as we have since heard, is at Huaj.a.pam, in two days more the messenger should reach him. He has been gone four days; therefore, in four more, at the most, Don Rafael should arrive at San Carlos, where he will know we are awaiting him.”
”Four days!” murmured Gertrudis. ”Oh! it is a long, long time!”
Gertrudis did not dare to add, what she feared at the moment, that her life might not last so long.
After a moment of silence she continued--
”And besides, when, with a blush upon my cheeks, and my eyes turned away, I hear Don Rafael say to me, 'You have sent for me, Gertrudis, I have come,' what answer can I make? Oh, father! I shall die of grief and shame; for I shall then feel that he no longer loves me. He will see me as I am--a ruin--only the shadow of my former self, with my health gone, and my freshness faded. Likely enough, generosity will prompt him to feign a love which he does not feel, and which I could not believe in. What proof could he give that his words would only be spoken out of compa.s.sion for me?”
”Who can tell?” said Don Mariano. ”Perhaps he may give you some proof that you cannot help believing in his sincerity.”
”Do not wish it, father, if you love me; for if he should offer a proof I cannot refuse to believe in, I feel that I should die of joy. Poor father!” continued she, with a choking sigh, and throwing her arms round his neck, ”in either case you are likely soon to have but one daughter.”
At this mournful declaration Don Mariano could no longer restrain his grief; and returning the embrace of Gertrudis, he mingled his tears with hers. Both wept aloud, their voices being audible to the _centzontle_, on a neighbouring tree--that catching up the mournful tones repeated them to the ear of night.
Just then the moon shot out from behind a thick ma.s.s of clouds, that had hitherto been shrouding her from the sight; and the landscape, illuminated by her silvery light, all at once a.s.sumed a less lugubrious aspect.
The lake, as well as the forest on its sh.o.r.es, appeared less sombre; and the corrugated flanks of the enchanted hill glanced with a vitreous reflection like the greenish waves of an agitated sea. Upon the surface of the water could be seen the dark, hideous forms of huge alligators moving along the edge of the reeds, and now and then giving utterance to their deep bellowing notes, as they disported themselves under the light of the moon.
The domestics of Don Mariano, seated close together, more than once fancied that they could distinguish the voices of human beings, and all s.h.i.+vered with fear as they recalled the legend which Zefirino had just related.
”I wish, comrades,” said one of them, speaking in a tone of subdued terror, ”I wish that this night was well over. From the noises we have heard, and those strange lights that Castrillo has seen, one might fancy some terrible misfortune was to happen to-night! It only wants the scream of an owl from one of the trees around here, and then we may pray for the soul of our poor young mistress.”
At that moment a voice--this time certainly a human voice--proceeding from the direction of the lake, interrupted the speaker. It seemed to arise out of the bosom of the water.
The four domestics started, and sat regarding each other with looks of affright. There could be no doubt of its being a human voice which they had heard, as if intoning a song or chaunt, but uttered in some unknown tongue--such as that in which the ancient Indians used to converse with their divinities.
”Santissima madre!” muttered one of the domestics, ”what if it should be the Indian who searches for his heart?”
His companions made no other answer than by nodding their heads to signify that such had been the thought of each.
At this moment another noise reached them. It was a rustling as of leaves, and almost simultaneously they saw the figure of a man making his way through the reeds that grew by the edge of the water.
In the clear light of the moon they could see that the man was completely naked, and that his skin was of a bronze or copper colour--in other words, that he was an Indian.
As he pa.s.sed through the reeds he parted their stems with his outstretched arms--at the same time keeping his eyes bent downwards as if searching for something.
After reaching the edge of the open water, he plunged in; and, swimming vigorously out into the lake, appeared to direct himself towards the enchanted hill.
”G.o.d of heaven!” muttered Zefirino, in an accent of terror. ”It is the Indian searching for his heart!”
CHAPTER SEVENTY FOUR.
AN AERIAL COUCH.
After escaping from the company of Arroyo and his bandits, Don Cornelio mechanically followed the guidance of Costal--who was now aiming to reach the lake of Ostuta as soon as possible, in order that he might commence his incantations before the rising of the moon.
Don Cornelio knew that it would be breath thrown away to attempt persuading the Indian to abandon his absurd and superst.i.tious design; and to propose accompanying him, and becoming either actor or spectator in the pagan ceremony, would be equally against the wishes of Costal.
After they had ridden for some distance towards the lake, the Captain admonished his companions of his intention to stay behind and wait for their return, after they should have accomplished their purpose, and had their interview with Tlaloc and his wife Matlacuezc. Costal was only too glad to agree to this proposition; and promised to find a proper halting-place for Don Cornelio at some distance from the sh.o.r.es of the lake. There was no house of any kind in the vicinity, not even the meanest hut. This, Costal, from his perfect knowledge of the locality, was aware of; but the night was a pleasant one, and a few hours might be pa.s.sed in the open air without any great inconvenience.