LANZI.
Carmela watched for a long time the Jaguar's irregular ride across
country, and when he at length disappeared in the distance, in a clump
of pine trees, she sadly bowed her head and re-entered the venta slowly
and pensively.
"He hates him," she murmured, in a low, agitated voice; "he hates him.
Will he be willing to save him?"
She fell into an equipal, and for some minutes remained plunged in a
deep reverie.
At last she raised her head; a feverish flush covered her face, and her
soft eyes seemed to emit flashes.
"I will save him!" she exclaimed, with supreme resolution.
After this exclamation she rose, and walking hurriedly across the room,
opened the door leading into the corral.
"Lanzi?" she cried.
"Niña?" the half-breed replied, who was engaged at this moment in giving
their alfalfa to two valuable horses belonging to the young lady, which
were under his special charge.
"Come here."
"I will be with you in a moment."
Five minutes later at the most he appeared in the doorway.
"What do you want, señorita?" he said, with that calm obsequiousness
habitual to servants who are spoiled by their masters; "I am very busy
at this moment."
"That is possible, my good Lanzi," she answered softly; "but what I have
to say to you admits of no delay."
"Oh, oh," he said, in a slightly suppressed tone, "what is the matter,
then?"
"Nothing very extraordinary, my good man; everything in the venta is
regular as usual. But I have a service to ask of you."
"Speak, señorita; you know that I am devoted to you."
"It is growing late, and it is probable that no traveller will arrive at
the venta to-day."
The half-breed raised his head, and mentally calculated the position of
the sun.
"I do not believe that any travellers will arrive to-day," he at length
said, "for it is nearly four o'clock; still, they might come for all
that."
"Nothing leads to the supposition."
"Nothing, indeed, señorita."
"Well, I wish you to shut up the venta."
"Shut up the venta! What for?"
"I will tell you."
"Is it really very important?"
"Very."
"Speak, then, Niña, I am all ears."
The maiden gave the half-breed, who was standing in front of her, a long
and searching glance, leant her elbow gracefully on the table, and said,
quietly--
"I am anxious, Lanzi."
"Anxious? What about?"
"At my father's long absence."
"Why, he was here hardly four days back."
"He never left me alone so long before."
"Still," the half-breed remarked, scratching his head with an
embarrassed air--
"In a word," she interrupted him, resolutely, "I am anxious about my
father, and wish to see him. You will close the venta, saddle the
horses, and we will go to the Larch-tree hacienda; it is not far, and we
shall be back in four or five hours."
"That will make it very late."
"The greater reason to start at once."
"Still--"
"No remarks; do as I order you--I insist on it."
The half-breed bowed without replying, for he knew that when his young
mistress spoke thus he must obey.
The maiden walked forward a step, laid her white and delicate hand on
the half-breed's shoulder, and putting her lovely face close to his, she
added, with a gentle smile which made the poor fellow start with joy--
"Do not be vexed at my whim, my kind Lanzi, but I am suffering."
"Be vexed with you, Niña!" the half-breed answered with a significant
shrug of his shoulders; "Why, do you not know that I would go into the
fire for you? Much more, then, would I satisfy your slightest wish."
He then began carefully barricading the doors and windows of the venta,
after which he proceeded to the corral to saddle the horses, while
Carmela, suffering from nervous impatience, changed her attire for other
clothes more convenient for the journey she designed, for she had
deceived the old servant. It was not Tranquil she wished to find.
But Heaven had decreed that the plan she revolved in her pretty head
should not succeed.
At the moment when she re-entered the sitting-room, fully dressed and
ready to start, Lanzi appeared in the doorway of the corral with extreme
agitation displayed in his face.
Carmela ran up to him eagerly, fancying that he had hurt himself.
"What is the matter with you?" she asked him, kindly.
"We are lost!" he replied, in a hollow voice, as he looked about him in
terror.
"Lost!" she exclaimed, turning pallid as a corpse; "What do you mean?"
The half-breed laid a finger on his lip to command silence, made her a
sign to follow him, and glided noiselessly into the corral.
Carmela followed him.
The corral was enclosed with a plank wall about six feet high; Lanzi
went up to a spot where a wide cleft allowed a prospect of the plain.
"Look," he said to his mistress.
The girl obeyed, and laid her face against the plank.
Night was beginning to fall, and a denser shadow was each moment
invading the plain. Still, the obscurity was not great enough to prevent
Carmela distinguishing, about two hundred yards away, a numerous party
of horsemen coming at full speed in the direction of the venta.
A glance sufficed the maiden to perceive that these horsemen were Indios
Bravos.
The warriors, more than fifty in number, were in their full war paint;
and as they bent over the necks of their horses, which were as untamable
as themselves, they brandished their long lances over their heads with
an air of defiance.
"These are Apaches," Carmela exclaimed, as she recoiled in terror. "How
comes it that they have reached this place before we are warned of their
arrival?"
The half-breed shook his head sadly.
"In a few minutes they will be here," he said; "what is to be done?"
"Defend ourselves!" the maiden replied, bravely; "They do not appear to
have fire-arms. Behind the walls of our house we could easily hold out
against them till daybreak."
"And then?" the half-breed asked, doubtfully.
"Then," she answered with exaltation, "Heaven will come to our aid."
"Amen!" the half-breed answered, less convinced than ever of the
possibility of such a miracle.
"Make haste and bring down into the inn-room all the fire-arms we have;
perhaps the heathens will fall back if they find themselves hotly
received: and, after all, who knows whether they will attack us?"
"Hum! the demons are crafty, and know perfectly well how many persons
dwell in this house. Do not expect that they will withdraw till they
have carried it by storm."
"Well," she exclaimed, resolutely, "let us trust to Heaven; we shall die
bravely fighting, instead of letting ourselves be captured like cowards,
and becoming the slaves of those heartless and merciless villains."
"Be it so, then," the half-breed answered, electrified by his mistress's
enthusiastic words, "we will fight. You know, señorita, that a combat
does not terrify me. The pagans had better look out, for unless they
take care, I may play them a trick they will remember for a long time."
This conversation broke off here for the present, owing to the necessity
the speakers were under of preparing their means of defence, which they
did with a speed and intelligence which proved that this was not the
first time they found themselves in so critical a position.
The reader must not feel surprised at the virile heroism Carmela
displayed under the present circumstances. On the border, where persons
are incessantly exposed to the incursions of Indians and marauders of
every description, the women fight by the side of the men, and
forgetting the weakness of their sex, they can, on occasion, prove
themselves as brave as their husbands and brothers.
Carmela was not mistaken, it was really a band of Indian Bravos coming
up at a gallop, who soon reached the house, and completely surrounded
it.
Usually the Indians in their expeditions proceed with extreme prudence,
never showing themselves openly, and only advancing with great
circumspection. This time it was easy to see that they believed
themselves certain of success, and were perfectly well aware that the
venta was stripped of its defenders.
On coming within twenty yards of the venta they stopped, dismounted, and
seemed to be consulting for a moment.
Lanzi had profited by these few moments of respite to pile on the table
all the weapons in the house, consisting of about a dozen rifles.
Although the doors and windows were barred, it was easy to follow the
movements of the enemy through loopholes made at regular distances.
Carmela, armed with a rifle, had intrepidly stationed herself before the
door, while the half-breed walked up and down anxiously, going out and
coming in again, and apparently giving the last touch to an important
and mysterious job.
"There," he said, a moment later, "that is all right; lay that rifle on
the table again, señorita; we can only conquer those demons by
stratagem, not by force, so leave me to act."
"What is your plan?"
"You will see. I have sawn two planks out of the enclosure of the
corral; so soon as you hear me open the door, set off at full speed."
"But you?"
"Do not trouble yourself about me, but give your horse the spurs."
"I will not abandon you."
"Nonsense! No folly of that sort; I am old, my life only hangs by a
thread, but yours is precious and must be saved; let me alone, I tell
you."
"No, unless you tell me."
"I will tell you nothing. You will find Tranquil at the ford of the
Venado; not a word more."
"Ah, that is it," she exclaimed; "well, I swear that I will not stir
from your side, whatever may happen."
"You are mad; have I not told you I wished to play the Indians a famous
trick?"
"Indeed!"
"Well, you will see. As, however, I fear some imprudence on your part, I
wish to see you start before me, that is all."
"Are you speaking the truth?"
"Of course I am. In five minutes I shall have joined you again."
"Do you promise me, then?"
"Do you fancy I should find any fun in remaining here?"
"What do you intend doing?"
"Here are the Indians; begone, and do not forget to start at full gallop
so soon as I open the door of the venta, and ride in the direction of
the Venado ford."
"But I expect--"
"Begone, begone," he interrupted her quickly, as he pushed her toward
the corral, "it is all settled."
The maiden unwillingly obeyed: but at this moment loud blows against the
shutters were audible, and the half-breed profited by this demonstration
of the Indians to close the door leading into the corral.
"I swore to Tranquil to protect her, whatever might happen," he
muttered, "and I can only save her by desires for her. Well, I will die:
but, Capa de Dios, I will have a fine funeral."
Fresh blows were dealt at the shutters, but with such violence that it
was easy to see that they would be soon broken in.
"Who's there?" the half-breed asked quietly.
"Gente de paz," was the reply from without.
"Hum!" Lanzi said, "for peaceful people you have a singular way of
announcing your presence."
"Open, open!" the voice outside repeated.
"I am very ready to do so, but what proves to me that you do not mean
harm?"
"Open, or we will break down the door."
And the blows were renewed.
"Oh, oh," the half-breed said, "you are strong in the arms; do not
trouble yourself further, I am going to open."
The blows ceased.
The half-breed unbarred the door, and opened it.
The Indians rushed into the interior with yells and howls of joy.
Lanzi slipped on one side to let them pass; he gave a start of joy on
hearing a horse set out at full gallop.
The Indians paid no attention to this incident.
"Drink!" they shouted.
"What would you like to have?" the half-breed asked, seeking to gain
time.
"Fire-water!" they yelled.
Lanzi hastened to serve them, and the orgy began.
Knowing they had nothing to fear from the inhabitants of the venta, the
Redskins had rushed in so soon as the door was opened, without taking
the precaution to post sentries; this negligence, on which Lanzi
calculated, gave Carmela the opportunity of escaping unseen and
undisturbed.
The Indians, and especially the Apaches, have a frenzied passion for
strong liquors; the Comanches alone are teetotallers. Hitherto, they
have succeeded in refraining from that mournful tendency to
intoxication, which decimates and brutalizes their brothers.
Lanzi followed with a cunning look the evolutions of the Redskins, who
crowded round the tables, drank deeply, and emptied the botas placed
before them; their eyes were beginning to sparkle, their features were
animated; they spoke loudly all at once, no longer knowing what they
said, and only thinking about becoming intoxicated.
Suddenly the half-breed felt a hand laid on his shoulder.
He turned.
An Indian was standing with folded arms in front of him.
"What do you want?" he asked him.
"Blue-fox is a Chief," the Indian answered, "and has to speak with the
Paleface."
"Is not Blue-fox satisfied with the way in which I have received him and
his companions?"
"It is not that; the warriors are drinking, and the Chief wants
something else."
"Ah," the half-breed said, "I am vexed, for I have given you all I had."
"No," the Indian replied drily.
"How so?"
"Where is the golden-haired girl?"
"I do not understand you, Chief," the half-breed said; on the contrary,
understanding perfectly well.
The Indian smiled.
"The Paleface will look at Blue-fox," he said, "and will then see that
he is a Chief, and not a child who can be put off with falsehoods. What
has become of the girl with the golden hair, who lives here with my
brother?"
"The person of whom you speak, if you mean the young lady to whom this
house belongs--"
"Yes."
"Well! she is not here."
The Chief gave him a searching glance.
"The Paleface lies," he said.
"Look for her."
"She was here an hour ago."
"That is possible."
"Where is she?"
"Look."
"The Paleface is a dog whose scalp I will raise."
"Much good may it do you," the half-breed answered with a grin.
Unfortunately, while uttering these words, Lanzi gave a triumphant
glance in the direction of the corral; the Chief caught it, rushed to
the door, and uttered a yell of disappointment on seeing the hole in the
palisade; the truth flashed upon him.
"Dog!" he yelled, and drawing his scalping knife, he hurled it furiously
at his enemy.
But the latter, who was watching him, dodged the missile, which struck
into the wall a few inches from his head.
Lanzi leaped over the bar, and rushed at Blue-fox.
The Indians rose tumultuously, and seizing their arms, bounded like wild
beasts in pursuit of the half-breed.
The latter, on reaching the door of the corral, turned, fired his
pistols among the crowd, leapt on his horse, and burying his spurs in
its flanks, forced it to leap through the breach.
At the same moment a horrible noise was heard behind him, the earth
trembled, and a confused mass of stones, beams, and fragments of every
description fell around the rider and his horse, which was maddened with
terror.
The Venta del Potrero was blown into the air, burying beneath its ruins
the Apaches who had invaded it.
Such was the trick Lanzi had promised himself to play on the Indians.
We can now understand why he had insisted on Carmela setting off at full
speed.
By a singular piece of good fortune, neither the half-breed nor his
horse was wounded; the mustang, with foaming nostrils, flew over the
prairie as if winged, incessantly urged on by its rider, who excited it
with spur and force, for he fancied he could hear behind him the gallop
of another horse in pursuit.
Unluckily the night was too dark for him to assure himself whether he
were mistaken.