Part 47 (1/2)
The last rays of the setting sun were sparkling on the selenite of the Silver Mountains, as we approached the encampment of the Saints. We had got near enough to make out the dimensions of the caravan. We saw that there were about a score of the large tilted waggons (Troy and Conestoga), with several smaller vehicles (Dearborns and Jerseys). The latter, with springs, were no doubt the more luxurious travelling carriages of such Saints as may have been in easier circ.u.mstances at home; while the ox-drawn ”Conestogas” belonged to the common crowd.
With the larger waggons, a ”corral” had been formed--as is the usual custom of the prairie caravan.
In the following fas.h.i.+on is the enclosure constructed:--The two front waggons are drawn side by side, and halted close together. The two that follow next on the trail, are driven up outside of these--until their front wheels respectively touch the hind ones of the pair that precede them--when they also stop. The pair following in their turn double their poles upon these; and so on, till half the train is expended. The enclosure is not yet complete. It forms only a half-circle, or rather a semi-ellipse; and the corresponding half is obtained, by a slight change in the mode of bringing up the remaining vehicles. These are driven forward to the ground, so that the rear of each is turned _inward_--the reverse of what was observed in bringing the others into place--and the double-curve which before was constantly diverging, now becomes convergent. When all the waggons have got into their places, the ellipse will be completed; but it is customary to leave an _open_ s.p.a.ce at the end--a sort of avenue by which the enclosure may be entered.
When horses and cattle require to be _corralled_, this entrance can be closed, by simply stretching a rope across it. If danger be apprehended, the travellers can keep within this enclosure--the bodies of the waggons forming an excellent rampart of defence. The tilts serve as tents; and under their capacious covering the female members of the emigrant's family are accustomed to sleep in comfort and security.
Sentinels outside, and horse-guards picketed still further off, give warning of the approach of an enemy.
As we drew near the camp, we could perceive that in this approved fas.h.i.+on had the Mormons constructed their _corral_. Most of the lighter vehicles were inside the enclosure; and there we could see the forms of women and children moving about in an excited manner--as if they had retreated thither on discovering our approach. The men still remained outside; and the horses and horned cattle had been left undisturbed.
Our party was not large enough to have created an alarm--even had our arrival been unexpected. It could scarcely have been so. No doubt they took us for what we were: the emissaries of the Utah chief!
When within a few hundred yards of the camp, a party, already on horseback, came trotting towards us. Archilete had hoisted a piece of white fawn-skin on his gun-rod--the world-known symbol of peace, and so understood by the red men of America. A towel or table-cloth, or something of the sort, was held up in answer; and after the demonstration the mounted men spurred forward to meet us. When we had approached within a dozen lengths of each other, both parties reined up; and the Mexican and Mormon leader, separating from their respective followers, met midway between the two parties, shook hands, and entered into conversation. What they said was simple enough. I could hear the trapper declaring in broken English the nature of our errand--that he had been sent by Wa-ka-ra to act as their guide; and that we his _companeros_, were the Utah hunters, to provide game for the caravan.
Of the Mormons who rode up to us there were half-a-dozen in all; and I was fain to hope that they were not a fair specimen of the emigrant party. They were not--as I afterwards ascertained. They were the _Danites_, or _Destroying Angels_, that accompanied the train.
”Destroying _devils_” would have been a more appropriate appellation: for six more villainous-looking individuals I had never beheld. There was no sign of the angelic, neither in their eyes nor features--not a trace; but, on the contrary, each might have pa.s.sed for an impersonation of the opposite character--a very ”devil incarnate!” Five of them I had never seen before--at least to remember them. The sixth only on one occasion. Him I remembered well. The man who had once looked in the face of the ex-attorney's clerk, and _ci-devant_ schoolmaster of Swampville, was not likely soon to cast that countenance from his remembrance. It was Stebbins who was talking to the Mexican. The dialogue was of brief duration. The tale told by the trapper was scarcely news: it had been expected; and was therefore accepted without suspicion. The interview ended by the Mormon leader pointing to a place where we might pitch our tents--outside the waggon enclosure, and near the bank of the river. This was just what we desired; and, proceeding direct to the spot, we commenced unpacking our paraphernalia.
CHAPTER NINETY SEVEN.
THE CORRALLED CAMP.
As soon as our quality was known, the Saints came crowding around us.
The corral poured forth its contents--until nine-tenths of the whole caravan, men, women and children, stood gazing upon us, with that stare of idiotic wonder peculiar to the humbler cla.s.ses of countries called civilised. We managed to withstand the ordeal of their scrutiny with an a.s.sumed air of true savage indifference. Not without an effort, however: since it was difficult to resist laughing at the grotesque exclamations and speeches, which our appearance and movements elicited from these wondering yokels. We were cautious not to notice their remarks--appearing as if we understood them not. Peg-leg, by the aid of his Anglo-American jargon--picked up among the mountain-men--was able to satisfy them with an occasional reply. The rest of us said nothing; but, to all appearance earnestly occupied with our own affairs, only by stealth turned our eyes on the spectators. I could perceive that the huntress was the chief attraction; and for a moment my apprehensions were sufficiently keen. The girl had done nothing to disguise her s.e.x-- the mask extending no farther than to her face and features. Her neck, hands, and wrists--all of her skin that might be exposed--were stained Indian of course; and there would have been little likelihood of their detecting the false epidermis under a casual observation. Had it been a mere ordinary person--painted as she was--she might have pa.s.sed for an Indian without difficulty. As it was, however, her voluptuous beauty had tempted a closer scrutiny; and, spite of her disfigured features, I saw glances directed upon her expressive of secret but pa.s.sionate observation. Some of the bystanders took no pains to conceal their predilection.
”Darnationed likely squaw!” remarked one. ”Who air she, old timber-toes?” inquired he, addressing himself to the guide. ”Squaw-- Utah gal,” replied the Mexican in his trapper patois. Pointing to me, he continued: ”She sister to hunter-chief--she hunter too--kill bighorn, buffalo, deer. _Carrambo! si_! She grand _cazadora_!”
”Oh! durn yer kezedora. I don' know, what that ere means; but I do know, an' rayther calculate, if that ere squaw had the scrubbin'-brush an' a leetle soft soap over that face o' hern, she'd look some punkins, I guess.”
The fellow who had thus eloquently delivered himself was one of the six who had saluted us on our arrival. Two or three of his _confreres_ were standing beside him--gazing with lynx, or rather wolf-like glances upon the girl. Stebbins himself, before parting, had cast upon her a look of singular expression. It was not significant of recognition; but rather of some thought of viler origin. The others continued to give utterance to their mock admiration; and I was glad--as the girl herself appeared to be--when the tent was pitched, and she was able to retire out of reach of their rude ribaldry.
We had now an opportunity of studying the Mormons _chez eux memes_: for not one of them had the slightest idea that their talk was understood by us. Most of them appeared to be of the humbler cla.s.s of emigrants-- farm-people or those of mechanical calling--artisans of the common trades--shoemakers, blacksmiths, joiners, and the like. In the countenances of these there was no cast that betrayed a character, either of particular saintliness or sin. In most of them, the expression was simply stolid and bovine; and it was evident that these were the mere cattle of the herd. Among them could be observed a sprinkling of a different sort of Saints--men of more seeming intelligence, but with less moral inclinings--men of corrupt thoughts and corrupt lives--perhaps once gentle, but now fallen--who had, no doubt, adopted this pseudo-religion in the expectation of bettering their temporal rather than spiritual condition. The influence of these last over the others was quite apparent. They were evidently chiefs-- bishops or deacons--”tenths” or ”seventies.” It was singular enough to see _dandies_ among them; and yet, however ludicrous the exhibition, dandyism was there displayed! More than one ”swell” strutted through the crowd in patent-leather boots, Parisian silk hat, and coat of s.h.i.+ning broad-cloth! The temporary halt had offered an opportunity for this display of personal adornment; and these b.u.t.terflies had availed themselves of the advantage, to cast for a few hours the chrysalis of their travelling gear.
The women were of all ages; and, it might be added, of all nations.
Several European tongues mingled in the melee of sounds; but the one which predominated was that language without vowels--the jargon of the Welsh Princ.i.p.ality. The continual clacking of this unspeakable tongue told that the sons and daughters of the Cymri mustered strongest in the migration. Many of the latter wore their picturesque native costume-- the red-hooded cloak and kirtle; and some were unspeakably fair, with the fine white teeth, fair complexion, and ruddy cheeks, common to other branches of the Celtic race, but nowhere so characteristic as among the fair maidens of Cambria. It was, no doubt, those sweet s.h.i.+ning faces, wreathed with free artless smiles, that had caused the lady-killers to unpack their portmanteaus.
My own eyes dwelt not upon these. Ever since our arrival upon the ground, I had been watching with keen glances the opening that led into the corral. Every one who came forth--man or woman--had been the object of my scrutiny. But my glances had been given in vain; and were not rewarded by the recognition of a single individual. The entrance was about two hundred yards from the place where our tents were being pitched; but even at that distance I should have recognised the colossal squatter. As for Lilian, my heart's instinct would have declared her ident.i.ty at the most casual glance. Neither father nor daughter had yet made their appearance outside the enclosure: though all the world beside had come freely forth, and many were going back again. It was odd, to say the least, they should act so differently from the others. She, I knew, was very different from the ”ruck” that surrounded her; and yet one would have thought that curiosity would have tempted her forth--that simple childlike inclination, natural in one so young, to witness our wild attire--to gaze on our plumes and our paint? I could less wonder at Holt himself being insensible to such attraction; but in her it seemed strange. My astonishment increased, as form after form pa.s.sed out from the opening, but not that for which my eyes were searching. It ceased to be astonishment: it grew into chagrin; and after that a.s.sumed the character of an apprehension. This apprehension I had already entertained, but in a less definite form. It now shaped itself into a cruel doubt--the doubt of _her being there_--either inside the corral, or anywhere in the Mormon camp!
After all, had we taken the wrong track? Might not Holt have kept on with the gold-diggers? The story of the Chicasa signified nothing.
Might not Lilian, under the protection of that gallant dragoon, with the torn ta.s.sel--might not she? ”It is quite probable,” I muttered to myself, ”highly probable that they are not here! The squatter may have resisted the will of his Apostolic companion; and, separating himself from the Mormon party, have gone on with the diggers? No! yonder! Holt himself, as I live!”
The exclamatory phrases were called forth by the appearance of a tall man in the opening between the waggons. It was Holt. He was standing still; and must have reached the spot he occupied but the moment before--when my eyes for an instant had been turned away. The Herculean frame, and great rufous beard hanging over his breast, proclaimed to my eyes the ident.i.ty of the Tennessean squatter; and the costume confirmed it. It was precisely the same worn by him on that eventful morning-- when standing before me with his long rifle raised against my life. The ample surtout of greenish blanket-cloth, a little further faded--the red skirt underneath--the coa.r.s.e horse-skin boots rising to his thighs--the crimson kerchief turbaned around his head, its loose flap falling down over his s.h.a.ggy eyebrows--were all identical with the portrait remaining in my memory. I watched him with eager eye. Was it his intention to step nearer and examine us? Or had he come forth upon some other business? He was looking grave, and sad, I thought; but in the distance I could scarce note the expression upon his countenance. It did not appear to betoken curiosity. Once only he glanced towards us, and then turned his eyes in an opposite direction. This did not shew that he cared much for our presence, or was in anywise interested in it. In all likelihood, he shared not the childish curiosity of his travelling companions--to whom he in other respects bore but little resemblance.
As he stood in their midst, he looked like some grim but majestic lion, surrounded by jackals. His behaviour suggested a further similitude to the great forest monarch. He seemed to hold no converse with those around him; but stood apart and for the moment motionless as a statue.
Once only I noticed that he yawned--stretching out his colossal arms, as if to aid in the involuntary action. For this purpose, and this alone, did he appear to have come forth: since, shortly after its accomplishment, he turned back into the avenue, and disappeared behind the barricade of the waggons!
CHAPTER NINETY EIGHT.
BEAUTY EMBROWNED.
The apparition--for it had something of the character of one--restored my equanimity. Holt was with the Mormon train; and of course Lilian also. It may seem strange that this knowledge should have given me satisfaction--that a belief, but yesterday grieving me, should to-day bring gladness!
The apparent anomaly is easily explained. It was the consequence of a change in the situation. My confidence in the success of our scheme had now become strengthened--almost to a certainty. So deftly had we taken our measures, that we need apprehend no great difficulty in attaining the end aimed at. Among the Saints, there was not the slightest suspicion of our character--at least none had yet shown itself. We should be free to come and go, as we pleased: since the very nature of our contract required it. Camp and caravan would be alike accessible to us--at all hours, I might say--and surely opportunities would not be lacking for the accomplishment of our purpose?