Part 53 (1/2)
”You will have them at the Eagle's Cave by six in the morning; by six, do you hear?”
”Yes, Captain,” again replied the subordinate.
”And if any of them is missing--is missing, do you hear?”
”Yes, Captain.”
”You will take his place in the dance--the dance--ha! ha! ha! You understand that, Lopez?”
”Yes, Captain.”
”Enough then, good Lopez--handsome Lopez! beautiful Lopez!--enough, and good-night to you!”
So saying, the Jarocho drew his quirt several times across the red cheek of Raoul, and with a curse upon his lips he leaped upon his mustang and galloped off.
Whatever might be the nature of the punishment that awaited us at the Eagle's Cave, it was evident that Lopez had no intention of becoming proxy in it for any of us. This was plain from the manner in which he set about securing us. We were first gagged with bayonet-shanks, and then dragged out into the bushes.
Here we were thrown upon our backs, each of us in the centre of four trees that formed a parallelogram. Our arms and legs were stretched to their full extent, and tied severally to the trees; and thus we lay, spread out like raw hides to dry. Our savage captors drew the cords so taut that our joints cracked under the cruel tension. In this painful position, with a Jarocho standing over each of us, we pa.s.sed the remainder of the night.
Note 1. Griffe, a cross-breed between a negro and a Carib.
Note 2. Manga, a jacket with loose sleeves.
CHAPTER FORTY NINE.
A HANG BY THE HEELS.
It was a long night--the longest I can remember--a night that fully ill.u.s.trated the horror of monotony. I can compare our feelings to those of one under the influence of the nightmare. But, no--worse than that.
Our savage sentries occasionally sat down upon our bodies, and, lighting their cigaritos, chatted gaily while we groaned. We could not protest; we were gagged. But it would have made little difference; they would only have mocked us the more.
We lay glaring upon the moon as she coursed through a cloudy heaven.
The wind whistled through the leaves, and its melancholy moaning sounded like our death-dirge. Several times through the night I heard the howl of the prairie wolf, and I knew it was Lincoln; but the Jarochos had pickets all around, and the hunter dared not approach our position. He could not have helped us.
The morning broke at last; and we were taken up, tied upon the backs of vicious mules, and hurried off through the woods. We travelled for some distance along a ridge, until we had reached its highest point, where the cliff beetled over. Here we were unpacked, and thrown upon the gra.s.s. About thirty of the Jarochos guarded us, and we now saw them under the broad light of day; but they did not look a whit more beautiful than they had appeared under the glare of the blazing rancho on the preceding night.
Lopez was at their head, and never relaxed his vigilance for a moment.
It was plain that he considered the padre a man of his word.
After we had remained about half an hour on the brow of the cliff, an exclamation from one of the men drew our attention; and, looking round, we perceived a band of hors.e.m.e.n straggling up the hill at a slow gallop.
It was Jarauta, with about fifty of his followers. They were soon close up to us.
”_Buenos dias, caballeros_!” (Good day, gentlemen!) cried their leader in a mocking tone, leaping down and approaching us, ”I hope you pa.s.sed the night comfortably. Lopez, I am sure, provided you with good beds.
Didn't you, Lopez?”
”Yes, Captain,” answered the laconic Lopez.