Part 8 (1/2)

Youth is naturally confiding; when a great grief oppresses it, the need of entrusting that grief to a person who seems to sympathise with it, renders it expansive. Alone among the bandits, to whom chance had handed her over, Dona Clara must inevitably--so soon as the first paroxysm of suffering had pa.s.sed--seek for someone to console her, and help her in enduring the immense misfortune that crushed her.

And this had occurred much more rapidly than under ordinary circ.u.mstances, thanks to the sympathising kindness of the young American, who had in a few hours found the way to her heart.

Red Cedar, whom nothing escaped, smiled cunningly at the friends.h.i.+p of the two maidens, which, however, he feigned not to perceive. It was a strange thing, but this scalp hunter, this man that seemed to have nothing human about him, who perspired crime at every pore, whose ferocity was unbounded, had in his heart one feeling which attached him victoriously to the human family, a profound, illimitable love for Ellen--the love of the tiger for its cubs.

This frail girl was the sole creature for whom his heart beat more violently. How great, how powerful was the love Red Cedar experienced for this simple child! It was a wors.h.i.+p, an adoration. A word from her little mouth caused the ferocious bandit to feel indescribable delight; a smile from her rosy lips overwhelmed him with happiness. By her charming caresses, her gentle and insinuating words, Ellen had power to govern despotically that gathering of birds of prey which was her family. The chaste kiss his daughter gave him every morning, was the sunbeam that for the whole day warmed the heart of the terrible bandit, before whom everybody trembled, and who himself trembled at a slight frown from her, who combined all the joy and happiness of his life.

It was with extreme satisfaction that he saw his daughter become his innocent accomplice by acquiring the confidence of his prisoner, and gaining her friends.h.i.+p. This gentle girl was in his sight the securest gaoler he could give Dona Clara. Hence, in order, to facilitate, as far as possible, all that could enhance the friends.h.i.+p, he had completely closed his eyes, and feigned to be ignorant of the approximation between the two girls.

It was Ellen who had listened to the conversation between the monk and the Gambusino. At the moment she was re-entering the hut, the stifled sound of voices induced her to listen. Dona Clara was speaking in a low voice to a man, and that man was the Sachem of the Coras. Ellen, surprised in the highest degree, listened anxiously to their conversation, which soon greatly interested her.

After leaving the two Mexicans, Eagle-wing had, for some minutes, walked about the camp with an affected carelessness, intended to remove the suspicions of any who might have been tempted to watch his movements.

When he fancied he had dispelled any suspicions, the Indian chief insensibly drew nearer to the cabin, which served as a refuge to the maidens, and entered it, after a.s.suring himself by a glance, that no one was watching.

Dona Clara was alone, at this moment. We have told the reader where Ellen was; as for the squatter's wife, faithful to her husband's instructions not to annoy the prisoner in any way, she was quietly asleep by the fire, in the clearing.

The maiden, with her head bowed on her bosom, was plunged in deep and sad thought. At the sound of the Indian's steps, she raised her head, and could not restrain a start of terror on seeing him.

Eagle-wing immediately perceived the impression he produced on her, he stopped on the threshold of the cabin, folded his arms on his chest, and bowed respectfully.

”My sister need not be alarmed,” he said in a gentle and insinuating voice, ”it is a friend who is speaking to her.”

”A friend!” Dona Clara murmured, as she took a side glance at him; ”the unfortunate have no friends.”

The Indian drew a few steps nearer to her, and went on, as he bent over her:

”The jaguar has been forced to put on the skin of the crafty serpent, in order to introduce himself among his enemies, and gain their confidence.

Does not my sister recognise me?”

The Mexican girl reflected for a moment, and then answered with hesitation, and looking at him attentively:

”Although the sound of your voice is not unfamiliar to me, I seek in vain to remember where, and under what circ.u.mstances I have already seen you.”

”I will help my sister to remember,” Eagle-wing continued. ”Two days ago, at the pa.s.sage of the ford, I tried to save her, and was on the point of succeeding, but before that my sister had seen me several times.”

”If you will mention a date and a circ.u.mstance, I may possibly succeed in remembering.”

”My sister need not seek, it will be useless; I prefer telling her my name at once, for moments are precious. I am Moukapec, the great Chief of the Coras, of the Del Norte. My sister's father and my sister herself often helped the poor Indians of my tribe.”

”That is true,” the maiden said, sadly. ”Oh! I remember now. Poor people! They were pitilessly ma.s.sacred, and their village fired by the Apaches. Oh! I know that horrible story.”

A sardonic smile played round the chief's lips at these words.

”Coyote does not eat coyote,” he said, in a hollow voice; ”the jaguars do not wage war on jaguars. They were not Indians who a.s.sa.s.sinated the Coras, but scalp hunters.”

”Oh!” she said, in horror.

”Let my sister listen,” the Coras continued quickly; ”now that I have told her my name, she must place confidence in me.”