Part 36 (1/2)
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE SCALP-DANCE.
When the combat was at an end, the Comanches busied themselves in repairing the ravages caused by the Apache attack. Though their losses were great, they were not so serious as might be supposed; because, as the season was already far advanced, they had sent the larger portion of their property to the winter village. This accidental circ.u.mstance saved the greater part of their wealth.
On the other hand, the Apaches had been in such haste, and the defence had been so promptly organised and obstinate, that they had found no time to plunder. Although all the callis were reduced to ashes, that damage was trifling, and could be repaired in a few days.
The most serious part of the affair was the loss of some twenty warriors, who had courageously fallen in the defence of their homes.
Several women and children had also fallen; but the Apaches had suffered a far more considerable loss. Without counting more than eighty warriors killed during the rout, Black Cat and six other Apache warriors had fallen alive into the power of their adversaries, and a terrible fate awaited them.
”What does my brother intend to do with his prisoners?” Unicorn asked Valentine.
”My brother need not feel anxious about them,” the latter answered; ”they are whites, and I intend disposing of them as I think proper.”
”It shall be done as my brother desires.”
”Thanks, chief; I should feel obliged, however, by your lending me two or three warriors to guard them.”
”It is unnecessary,” Sandoval interrupted. ”I pledge my word of honour and that of my comrade not to try and escape for the next twenty-four hours.”
Valentine fixed on him a glance that seemed trying to read his most secret thoughts.
”It is well,” he said presently. ”I accept your parole.”
”Are you going to leave this poor creature without help?”
”You love him?”
”As my son; had it not been so, you would not have captured me.”
”Very good. We will try to save him; but, perhaps, it would be better for him to die at once.”
”Perhaps so,” the old Pirate said, shaking his head, and speaking, as it seemed, to himself.
”In a few moments the scalp dance will begin; will my brothers be present at it?” Unicorn asked.
”I will,” Valentine replied, who, although caring very little for this ceremony, understood that it would be impolitic not to appear at it.
We have already said that Ellen had reached the village by this time. On seeing her, Don Pablo felt his heart quiver with emotion, and he trembled in all his limbs. Ellen, whose glance was idly wandering around, let her eyes settle accidentally on him; she suddenly blushed, and let her eyelashes droop to hide her look of pleasure.
Instinctively she felt rea.s.sured on finding she had near her this young man, whom, however, she hardly knew, and who had only addressed her once or twice. A cry of joy died away on her lips. Don Pablo walked up to her. He had already learned by what a concourse of singular events she had fallen into the hands of the partisans.
”You are free, senorita,” he said to her; ”henceforth you have nothing more to fear here, for you are under my protection.”
”And mine,” Harry said, roughly, as he hastily surveyed Don Pablo. ”I alone am sufficient to defend Miss Ellen from any insult.”
The two young men exchanged a very significant glance: at the first word, each recognised in the other a rival.
”I have no desire to withdraw Miss Ellen from your protection, caballero,” the Mexican said coldly. ”Still, as you are a stranger in this village, where I am among devoted friends, I fancy that my support will not be useless to her, and offer it--that is all.”