Part 34 (1/2)
”That is true,” Don Miguel observed.
”How can we get her out of their clutches?” asked the general.
”That does not embarra.s.s me,” Bloodson said; ”tomorrow, at daybreak, we will start with all our people, and go to Unicorn's village, who will join his warriors to ours, and then we will attack the Apaches in their village.”
”Very good; but shall we be sure of finding my daughter at the village?”
”In the desert everything is seen and known. Do you fancy that Don Valentine has remained inactive since he left us? You may feel a.s.sured that he has long been on the trail of the young lady, if he has not already liberated her.”
”May heaven grant it,” the father remarked with a mournful sigh; ”but who will advise us of what he has done?”
”Himself, you may be convinced of that. Still, as we are a very long distance from the village where your daughter is probably confined, we must hasten to get nearer to her; hence, my guests, get up your strength, for tomorrow will be a tiring day, I warn you. Now, permit me to wish you good night, and leave you, in order to give my final orders.”
”One word more, I beg of you.”
”Speak.”
”What do you intend doing with the girl whom a strange accident has thrown into your power?”
”I do not know; events will decide her fate; I shall regulate my conduct by that of our common enemy.”
”You said yourself,” Don Miguel continued, ”that the girl is innocent of her father's crimes.”
Bloodson gave him a peculiar glance
”Do you not know, Don Miguel,” he answered, in a hollow voice, ”that in this world the innocent always suffer for the guilty?”
And, not adding a word further, he gave the Mexicans a profound bow, and slowly retired.
The two gentlemen looked after him, as he gradually disappeared in the gloom of the Teocali; then they fell back on their beds despondingly, not daring to impart to each other the sorrowful thoughts that oppressed them.
CHAPTER XXIII.
APACHES AND COMANCHES.
At daybreak some forty hors.e.m.e.n, at whose head rode Bloodson, Don Miguel Zarate, and General Ibanez, started in the direction of the Comanche village, guided by Unicorn. In the midst of the band rode Ellen, closely watched, and Harry, who would not leave her for a moment, galloped by her side.
The maiden had guessed, in spite of the attentions offered her, or perhaps through them, that she was regarded rather as a prisoner than a friend by the men who surrounded her. Hence, on leaving the Teocali, she had given Harry a suppliant glance to remain by her side. The hunter had understood this glance, and, in spite of all that Bloodson urged to induce him to ride with him at the head of the party, he obstinately remained by Ellen's side.
By a strange coincidence, at the very moment when the partisans, guided by Unicorn, were leaving the Teocali to go in search of news of their friends at the Comanche village, the latter were executing their miraculous flight, had left the islet on which they had defended themselves so bravely, and, after boldly crossing the Apache camp, were also proceeding, though by a different route, to the same village.
The march of a numerous party in the desert is generally less rapid than that of a few men, and it is easy of explanation. Two or three men proceeding together pa.s.s without difficulty anywhere, gliding through the chaparral, and following the track of wild beasts; but some forty persons compelled to adopt the Indian file, that is to say, march one after the other, along these problematical paths, scarce wide enough for one horseman, are constrained to cheek their pace, and advance with extreme precaution, especially on an expedition of the sort the partisans were now undertaking.
Hence, in spite of all the diligence they displayed, they advanced but slowly. The ruddy disc of the sun was rapidly descending on the horizon, the shadow of the lofty trees was lengthening more and more, the evening breeze was beginning to sough through the virgin forest, which extended for an enormous distance on the right of the travellers, while on the riverbank the alligators were clumsily leaving the bed of mud in which they had been slothfully wallowing, and were regaining the deep waters of the Gila.
The horses and riders, hara.s.sed by the fatigues of a long journey, were slowly dragging along, when Unicorn, who was about one hundred yards ahead, suddenly turned back and rejoined his comrades, who at once halted.
”What is the matter?” Bloodson asked, so soon as the chief found him; ”Has my brother seen anything that alarms him?”