COMPLICATIONS.
The same day, and nearly at the same hour, when Emile Gagnepain quitted
the Valle del Tambo, a little troop, composed of seven or eight
horsemen, followed a path a little distant from the encampment of the
Guaycurus.
These travellers, well mounted and well armed, appeared to be Indians.
A woman, or rather a young girl, accompanied them.
This young girl appeared to be of the age of fifteen years at the most.
Graceful and sprightly, she allowed to float in disorder the silken
ringlets, of her long blue-black hair upon her fair shoulders, slightly
browned by the sun, which had given her complexion, a golden tint. Her
fine skin, under which could be seen the course of the veins, preserved
still the velvet down of youth; her features were beautiful, her eyes
sparkling with humour; and her laughing mouth was formed with rare
perfection.
She wore the costume of the women of the Guaycurus, that is to say, a
long robe of striped cotton cloth fastened at the hips by the ayulate,
that symbolical girdle that these women wear before marriage. A large
mantle of the same stuff as the robe, which could, in case of need,
cover her whole body, rested at this moment on the croup of her horse;
little silver rings, strung together, formed a kind of necklace which
she wore on her neck; metal plates; bearing different figures covered
her breast, and golden half-hoops were suspended from her ears.
Her delicate little feet, aristocratically arched, were, imprisoned in
elegant buskins or half-boots, made with the fibres of the palm tree.
The cavalier, who travelled side by side with the young girl, bore a
striking resemblance to her. His features were fine and intelligent,
his forehead and his eyes black and well opened.--Although he wore the
complete costume of the Guaycurus warrior, he was not tattooed, nor had
paint in any way soiled the whiteness his skin.
Although his height was scarcely above the average, his limbs slight,
and his manners rather effeminate, it was easy to perceive that this
elegant exterior was united to an ardent soul and a brave heart.
The other warriors composing the little troop were hard-featured men,
with bronzed complexions, and of ferocious aspect, forming a perfect
contrast with the two persons whom we have tried to describe.
"Shall we arrive soon, brother?" asked the young girl, at the moment
when we enter on the scene.
"Soon, I hope," distractedly replied the warrior. "The indications we
have bad appear to me to be favourable."
"Do you know, brother for what reason the Cougar has sent for us?"
"I do not know," answered the young man, with some hesitation; "the
Cougar is a prudent chief, who does nothing without having maturely
reflected on it."
"And we shall see Gueyma again?" asked she with animation.
"Is it not he, with the Cougar, who commands the warriors of our tribe?"
"You are right. I am foolish to ask you this question, brother. Oh, how
happy I am!" she added.
"Dove's Eye," answered the warrior with severity, "do you not remember
my advice?"
"Oh yes, brother," said she, blushing slightly, lowering her eyes; "but
what harm is there in saying that, since you alone hear me?"
"Sister, a young girl ought to keep her feelings to her own heart."
"But you know how much I love Gueyma; you have yourself seemed to
encourage our mutual liking."
"You mistake, sister; I feel always the same towards you; it is you, on
the contrary, who--"
"Oh, do not blame me, brother," interrupted Dove's Eye, quickly; "do
not mar by your remonstrances the joy that I feel. I promise you I will
constrain myself."
The young man shook his head with an air of doubt.
"You do not believe me," pursued she; "you are wrong, Arnal; I will
keep my promise."
"For your own sake, I fear the time when we shall again see our
friends."
"Do not disquiet yourself about that, brother. I will be as cold and as
impenetrable as a rock."
"You must not go from one extreme to the other. Without manifesting
too much joy, you must assume an expression of frank and cordial
satisfaction, in again meeting with the friends and brethren of our
tribe."
"Well, I understand you, brother; you will have no occasion to be
dissatisfied with me."
At this moment a warrior approached.
"Has Arnal remarked that the track becomes more decided?" asked he.
"What thinks my brother, the Agonti?"
"I think that we are on the track of a numerous troop of horsemen."
"Are they whites or native warriors?"
"They are whites, and those who call themselves soldiers."
"Yes, this track is very distinct. These men, whoever they are, march
boldly forward. They feel themselves sufficiently strong, no doubt, to
have no need of concealing themselves, but fortunately for us these
travellers are proceeding in a direction contrary to that which we
follow. We have nothing, then, to fear from them."
"Look, moreover, at the path by which they have entered on their route."
"We can, then, continue to push on ahead; but we cannot be too much on
our guard."
"My brother, Arnal, may be tranquil."
"Good; my brother is a wise warrior. I have confidence in him,"
answered Arnal.
The Agonti bowed, and resumed his position in the advanced guard of the
little troop.
Dove's Eye proceeded pensively by the side of her companion; the
young girl seemed to have lost all her gaiety, and her charming
carelessness. Her head falling on her breast, without noticing
anything, with her little hand she gently whipped the horse, without
knowing what she was doing--so absorbed was she by her thoughts.
Arnal sometimes darted a side glance at her, and a smile of singular
expression was perceptible on his lips; but for some reason or
other, the young warrior did not manifest any desire to renew the
conversation, and appeared satisfied with the obstinate silence of his
companion.
Meanwhile the sun began to set, the black shadows of the trees
lengthened more and more; night approached.
The Agonti appeared for some minutes a prey to anxious concern.
Suddenly he stopped, alighted, stretched himself flat on the ground,
and appeared for two or three minutes to listen eagerly.
The travellers had reined up their horses, and stopped.
A curtain of foliage enveloped them as completely as if it had been
a thick wall; but it was transparent, and they could see through it,
without being perceived, the path which they had so abruptly quitted,
and which was only about ten yards distant.
"What is the matter?" asked Arnal.
"A numerous troop of horsemen is advancing," said the Agonti; "we must
be prudent."
"Very good; you have acted wisely. Listen; they approach."
"Yes, in a minute they will pass before us."
"We shall reconnoitre them at our ease, without fear of being
discovered by them."
"Do you think so?" cried a harsh and guttural voice, from the midst, of
the foliage.
"Ah!" cried Arnal, with a gesture of joy; "The Cougar."
"It is I," answered the chief; "you did not expect, I suppose, to meet,
me so soon."
"Just so," answered Arnal, "but I am glad of the good fortune that, has
brought you to us. Have you, then, abandoned your encampment?"
"Since sunrise my warriors have resumed their march. They are following
me."
"Is Gueyma with them, brother?" asked the young girl.
"Dove's Eye forgets," severely answered the old chief, "that a woman
has no right to interrogate a warrior."
"I am wrong, I confess," said she, dropping her head humbly; "but my
father loves me; he will pardon me."
"I forgive you, my child; but a young girl has no right to speak but
when she is spoken to."
This sharp reprimand was tempered with a look so gentle, and a smile so
sweet, that the young girl, blushing all the while, could not maintain
any anger towards the old chief.
"You guessed, then, that we were here," asked Arnal.
"Did I not expect you?" laconically said the Cougar. "And now give your
warriors orders to retire for the night."
The Cougar then made the young warrior follow him, and both again
reached the path, while the Agonti arranged the camp, and had the wood
cut, and the fires lighted.
As soon as he was in the path, he cast an inquiring look around him,
to as to assure himself that he was quite alone with his companion;
then he turned towards him, and appeared to wait till the latter should
speak.
Arnal hesitated a minute. His eyebrows lowered as under the influence
of some oppressive thought. The old chief smiled gently, as if to
encourage him.
At last the warrior decided to speak; but, instead of the language of
the Guaycurus, it was in Spanish that he spoke.
"How is he, since I saw him?" asked he. "Has he seen him?"
"Reassure yourself: he is well. All has passed in that interview better
than you and I could have dared to hope," quickly resumed the chief.
"You swear it, Diogo?"
"On my honour, señor--" But immediately bethinking himself, he added:
"Caballero, they have sworn friendship; they have exchanged arms."
"Oh, I thank heaven," cried Arnal. "But he?"
"He is always the same."
"What have you said to him?"
"Simply what it is necessary he should know--nothing more."
"Oh! I tremble, Diogo! I fear that he will not pardon me."
The old chief knitted his eyebrows.
"Not pardon you! No, no; hold up your head proudly; you have nothing of
that kind to fear."
"I dare not hope," murmured Arnal.
"Silence!" answered the Cougar; "compose your countenance; reassume
your self-command. Let us continue, for a few days, to act our parts,
and especially let us carefully keep our secret."
"Oh, you are strong, Diogo," feebly said the young warrior; "but I,
alas!--"
"You--you are Arnal, the bravest, and, despite his youth, the most
renowned warrior of the Guaycurus; do not forget that."
The young man smiled through his tears.
"Oh! you are good and devoted, my friend," answered he.
The sound of the precipitate gallop of a numerous troop of horsemen
was heard rapidly approaching, although, on account of the numerous
windings of the path, it was impossible to perceive them.
"Rejoin your companions," hastily said the old chief, "and leave it to
me to prepare your meeting."
"That will be the best," answered the young man.
And, after making a gesture of the hand to the Cougar, he re-entered
the wood.
The old chief remained alone; his head fell upon his breast, and, for
a few minutes, he appeared absorbed in thought; but he soon collected
himself, casting around him a look of singular boldness and energy.
"It is not now that I ought to give way to weakness," murmured he, in a
low and almost inarticulate voice. "The nearer the moment approaches,
the more my will should become firm and immovable."
He soon found himself surrounded by Guaycurus warriors.
"Well," said the Gueyma; "why have you halted?"
"Because in this place we stay for the night."
"To camp already, when there are yet nearly two hours more daylight!"
said the young chief.
"It if true," pursued the chief; "your observation is very just but it
does not depend upon me."
"How is that?"
"Because the fires are lighted in the wood, and the encampments are
prepared."
"The encampment prepared! By whom?"
"By friends--probably," answered the Cougar, with a strange smile.
"Ah!" exclaimed Gueyma, with an inquiring look.
"Yes, friends!" resumed the old chief, significantly "Did we not expect
some? Dove's Eye, eh?"
"Let us be off, then!" cried the impetuous young man, putting his horse
in train to dart forward.
But the Cougar suddenly stopped him, and, coldly laying his hand on the
bridle:
"Do you remember the word that you have given me, Gueyma?" said he.
"But she is there."
"Yes, she is there; but what matters a few minutes?"
"A minute is an age for me."
"Is it thus that you answer me, Gueyma? Is it in this way that you
keep your oath? Shall a woman's love make you forget your honourable
engagements? Go, allow yourself to be overcome by a foolish passion; I
do not count on you any longer."
The young man grew very pale at these severe words. For a moment he
fixed an angry look on the bold old man, who looked at him with an
expression of sorrow and disdain.
"Pardon me," he said, at last; "I was wrong. I thank you for having
recalled me to myself. You shall not have to complain of me, Cougar."
"Come then," answered the old chief, joyfully pressing the hand which
was held out to him; "now I am certain that you will not trespass over
the bounds."
The two chiefs entered the wood, followed by their warriors, and they
soon reached the camp, where Arnal waited for them.