Part 15 (1/2)
At a slight distance off rose the lofty Bears-hand mountain, whose crest was already covered by a slight layer of snow. The crows formed vast circles in the air, and the buffaloes, elks, a.s.shatas, and bighorns ran and bounded in every direction, bellowing and lowing.
The pirates, insensible to the charms of the scenery, and having no other moving principle than greed, galloped in the direction of the village of the Buffalo tribe, of which Stanapat (the handful of blood) was the Sachem, gradually approaching the banks of the Gila, which was still invisible, but whose course could now soon be traced, owing to the ma.s.s of vapour that rose from its bosom, and floated majestically over it, incessantly drawn up by the sunbeams.
Toward midday the band stopped to let the horses breathe, but, owing to the impatience of Red Cedar, and specially of the White Gazelle, soon started again. After descending a very steep hill, and marching for some distance in a deep ravine, that formed a species of canon, the band at length debouched on the banks of the Gila.
A strange spectacle was the result: on both sides the stream a number of Indians apparently encamped at the spot, although their village stood a little distance off at the top of a hill, in accordance with the fas.h.i.+on of the Pueblos, to convert their habitations into little fortresses, were running and seeking in every direction, shrieking, gesticulating, and making the most fearful disturbances.
So soon as they perceived strangers advancing in a straight line toward them, and not attempting to conceal themselves, but marching in perfect order, they uttered frenzied yells, and rushed to meet them, brandis.h.i.+ng their weapons, and making ready for a fight.
”Confound it!” said Sandoval, ”the Indians do not seem in a good temper.
Perhaps we do wrong in accosting them at this moment: from their present appearance they may play us a trick, so we will keep on our guard.”
”Bah! Let me act. I take everything on myself,” Red Cedar answered, with a.s.surance.
”I ask for nothing better, my friend,” Sandoval remarked; ”do exactly what you please; deuce take me if I try to interfere. _Caray_, I know those demons too well to get into trouble with them rashly.”
”Very good! That is agreed; do not trouble yourself any further.”
At a sign from Red Cedar the Pirates stopped, waiting impatiently what was going to happen, and resolved, at any rate, with that brutal egotism characteristic of scamps of that sort, to remain unmoved spectators.
The squatter, not displaying the slightest trepidation, threw back his rifle on its sling, and taking off his buffalo robe which he waved before him, advanced towards the Apaches.
The latter, seeing the strangers halt with their hands on their guns, and this man advancing alone as amba.s.sador, hesitated for a moment.
They formed a group, and consulted; after a hurried deliberation, two men moved forward, and also waving their buffalo robes, stood about ten paces in front of the hunter.
”What does my brother want of the warriors of my nation?” one of the Indians said, in a haughty voice; ”Does he not know that the hatchet has been dug up between the palefaces and redskins, or has he brought us his scalp, to save us the trouble of going to fetch it?”
”Is my brother a chief?” the Pirate answered, displaying no emotion.
”I am a chief,” the Indian replied--”my brothers call me Black Cat.”
”Very good,” Red Cedar continued. ”I will therefore answer my brother that I have known for a long time that the hatchet has been dug up for a long time between the 'Great hearts of the East' and the Apaches. As for my scalp, I am weak enough to set an enormous value on it, gray as it is, and I have no intention of letting it be raised.”
”In that case my brother acted very imprudently in coming to deliver himself up.”
”The future will prove the truth of that. Will my brother hear the propositions I am commissioned to make him?”
”My brother can speak, but he must be brief, for my sons are impatient.”
”What I have to say only concerns Black Cat.”
”My ears are open.”
”I have come to offer my brother the help of my comrades and my own--that is to say, the eleven best rifles in the prairie. By the council fire, I will explain to the chiefs what we can do to deliver them from their implacable enemy, Bloodson.”
”Bloodson is a cowardly dog,” the chief answered; ”the Indian women despise him. My brother has spoken well, but the whites have a forked tongue: what proof will my brother give me of his sincerity?”
”This,” the Pirate intrepidly answered, as he approached near enough to touch the Indian, ”I am Red Cedar, the scalp hunter.”
”Wah!” the chief said, his eyes flas.h.i.+ng.