PREPARATIONS FOR A RESCUE.
We will now leave the Comanche camp for a season, and return to the
Hacienda del Río, belonging to Count de Melgosa, whither we have before
taken the reader, and to which the count ordered the wounded man to
be conveyed. When they approached the hacienda, the Canadian remarked
to the count that perhaps Don Melchior, owing to his weakness, could
not be able to stand crossing the stream, and the ascent of the hill,
which was rendered more fatiguing by the steepness of the path that led
to the front gate. The count began laughing.
"What is it that amuses your Excellency?" the Canadian asked.
"Well," the count answered, "I am laughing at your simplicity, my
friend."
"My simplicity!"
"Yes; I fancied you better acquainted with strategics."
"What do you mean?"
"Hang it all! You ought to know that a good general never lets himself
be besieged without having the means to break the blockade when he
thinks proper."
"Ah, ah!" the hunter said with a smile, "I suspected it; but no matter.
Go on, Excellency."
"Does it interest you?"
"Enormously."
"Ah!" he said, giving him an inquiring glance.
"Oh, simply from an artistic point of view."
"Very good; well, I wish to prove to you what value I set on you, and
what faith I have in your honour."
"You were wrong to doubt it, Excellency."
"I believe so. Then I will show you what no living being has ever yet
seen."
"By Jove, Excellency, permit me to remark to you that what you are
doing is most imprudent."
"With anyone else it would certainly be so; but are you not my friend?"
"I hope so, Excellency."
"In that case, it is no longer imprudent, but merely a mark of
confidence. Diego López," he added, turning to the peon, "go to the
right."
"Excellency," the latter said respectfully, "if we go to the right
after passing that clump of larches, sumachs, and floripondios, we
shall come to an impassable belt of rocks which border the river on
that side."
"Nonsense," the count continued with a smile; "never mind; go on."
Diego López bowed, and at once went in the direction ordered. The road
had to be cut with the axe, and they only advanced step by step. After
about an hour of extremely fatiguing toil, the band reached, as Diego
López had predicted, the foot of an enormous and irregular mass of
rocks heaped on each other to a great height. They were forced to halt,
owing to the material impossibility of going any further.
"You see, Excellency," Diego López said, with the satisfaction of a
servant who believes he has got the best of his master.
"Yes, yes, I see," the count replied, as he attentively examined the
rocks; "be kind enough, Señor Clary, to hold my horse for a moment."
He dismounted, threw the bridle to the Canadian, and said to the peon--
"Come hither, Diego."
The latter followed him without a word, vainly torturing his brain to
guess what his master intended to do. The count walked straight up to
the rocks; on reaching a certain spot he stooped, and after a moment's
reflection, said--
"Thrust your gun barrel into that crack, and press."
The peon obeyed with the passive resignation of a good servant, and
after a few efforts a rather large block started and fell to the ground.
"Very good," the count said; "go on; now this one." A second stone,
larger than the first, fell, and revealed the entrance of a cave.
"Now," the count continued, "enlarge the passage."
"By heavens!" the Canadian exclaimed, "That is prodigious, and we can
pass through, horses and all."
"Of course. Do you not know that all the haciendas of any size in this
country were built by the first conquistadors of the country, who,
being daily exposed to the attacks of the Indians, were obliged to dig
passages of this nature, which allowed them, in the event of a siege,
to procure provisions, or call in the aid of their friends and allies?"
"And you are not afraid to show this passage to _me?_" the Canadian
said, in wonderment.
"Why should I be afraid? I repeat, that you are a friend, and that I
have faith in you."
"That is true," the Canadian replied; "but, no matter," he added, with
a shake of his head, "you have run a tremendous risk."
"Nonsense," the count continued, with a careless shrug of the shoulder.
"With you?"
While they were conversing, Diego López and his comrades had worked so
well that the entrance was now wide enough for the little band to pass.
"Come," said the count.
They went in, and when the last peon had passed through, the count
continued--
"Now, Diego López, put the stones back in their place as well as you
can, for it is useless to show other people the road we have taken."
The peons set to work, and in less than half an hour the entrance was
once more hermetically closed, and so skilfully, that no one could
have detected it from the outside. The passage in which the Spaniards
found themselves was probably lighted by a multitude of imperceptible
fissures, which at the same time renewed the stock of air; for
although the entrance had been stopped up, it was not dark, and it was
perfectly easy to breathe. Cut in the rock, the roof of this passage
was lofty enough for a man to pass through comfortably on horseback--it
was arched; the ground was dry and covered with a fine sand of a
golden-yellow.
The count placed himself at the head of the little party and gave a
signal to start. At first the passage descended rather abruptly, and
from the noise the travellers heard over their heads, they understood
that they were passing beneath the bed of the river; but gradually the
ground rose gently, and the passage ascended with innumerable windings,
opening out every now and then into long galleries, which showed that
the first owners of this hacienda, as prudent people, retained several
issues. At regular distances, they came to massive iron doors, which
the count opened by touching a hidden spring, and which closed again
after the travellers.
At length, after marching for about three-quarters of an hour in this
inextricable labyrinth, the count stopped before a massive oak door,
entirely covered with thick plates of iron.
"We have arrived," he said.
"What do you mean?" the Canadian remarked, "Not at the hacienda, I
suppose?"
"Yes, we are at the hacienda; and, more than that, we are at the
entrance of the court leading to the corral."
"That is impossible," said the Canadian.
The count smiled and touched a spring. The door opened, and the
Canadian repressed a cry of surprise as the count informed him they
were really in an inner court of the hacienda, which was at this
moment empty. The travellers entered, and then the gate was closed so
hermetically, and so thoroughly formed a part of the wall through the
stones with which it was covered, that in spite of the attention with
which the adventurer examined it, it was impossible for him to discover
its exact position.
"It is prodigious!" he muttered.
"Not at all," the count replied, gently; "it is, on the contrary, a
very ordinary affair, only due to the skill of the workman who was
intrusted with the job. But let us lose no more time here; Diego López,
convey the wounded man to the green room. Do not trouble yourself about
your horse, Señor Clary, it will be taken care of; come."
"Hang it, the beast is valuable; and were it only for the sake of the
person from whom I obtained it, I should not like any accident to
happen to it."
"As for that, be at your ease; your horse will be as well taken care of
as if it belonged to me."
Completely reassured by this promise, the Canadian dismounted and
accompanied his host into the house. The count's unexpected arrival
and the mysterious way in which he entered the hacienda caused some
surprise to his people, who did not understand how he could have got in
unseen by any of the sentries in a so carefully guarded fortress. The
reception the countess gave the adventurer was not merely polite, but
even affectionate, and very different from the somewhat dry manner in
which she greeted him on the first occasion. Don Melchior was put to
bed; and when the count and the Canadian entered the green room, the
doctor of the hacienda was attending to him. The young man was asleep.
"Well," the count asked, presently, "what do you think about your
patient, doctor?"
The doctor, or, to speak more correctly, the barber, who undertook that
duty, drew himself up, pursed his eyebrows, and replied gravely--
"This young man is as well as his state allows him to be. I have bled
him copiously, which, I believe, will produce a favourable result; in
two days, if no serious accident occur, I can promise you that he will
feel but little of the numerous contusions he has received."
"Thanks, doctor, for your good prognostics; attend to this young man as
you would to myself; I have the greatest wish to hear him talk as soon
as possible, even if he cannot get about."
"I will give you that satisfaction this very evening, Excellency,"
the doctor answered. "When the patient awakes, his strength will have
returned sufficiently to allow him to answer any questions you may
think proper to ask him."
The count and the adventurer exchanged a glance of satisfaction on
hearing this. The doctor's prediction was realized, for shortly
before sunset Don Melchior opened his eyes. At first he was somewhat
astonished to find himself lying in bed and attended by a doctor; but
when the latter had told him in a few words how, on being found half
dead, he was transported to the spot where he now was, his memory at
once returned, and he earnestly begged the doctor to inform the count
that as he was refreshed by the bleeding and rested by the sleep which
had resulted from it, he earnestly requested to see his saviour in
order to thank him for the service he had done him, and to ask him to
let him return as soon as possible to the Hacienda del Barrio, where
matters of the greatest importance summoned him. The count and the
Canadian proceeded straight to the young man, and after congratulating
him on the fortunate change which had taken place in him in so short a
time, pressed him to tell them all that had happened.
Don Melchior, on recognizing the count, who during his visit to
the hacienda had displayed much interest in him, had no difficulty
in recounting what had happened in the fullest detail, the more so
because knowing the count to be on very intimate terms with Don Aníbal
Saldibar, he hoped that the Spanish gentleman might help him in the
plan he meditated. The count was overwhelmed with grief on hearing
the misfortune which had happened to Doña Emilia, and immediately
suspected that the daring abduction to which she had been a victim was
the revenge of the Red Buffaloes, those constant foes of Don Aníbal.
But there was some mystery about this skilfully arranged and boldly
executed expedition. He suspected treachery, though it was impossible
to rest those suspicions on one person more than another. His anxiety
was the greater because it was probable that the ravishers, after their
snare was successful, had returned to the impenetrable deserts which
served them as refuge, and where it was impossible to pursue them,
especially owing to the state of confusion into which the country was
thrown by the decisive pronunciamiento of which Don Aníbal was one of
the principal chiefs, and was stripped of any hope of cooperation from
the Spaniards. The situation was serious, and the count did not know
how to escape from it.
"Listen to me," said the Canadian, who during the young man's recital
had not made the slightest remark. "The affair of which you are
talking, is beyond the pale of the common law. Spanish troops will be
of no more use to you than Mexican. You have to deal with redskins, do
not overlook that fact."
"We know it perfectly well," the count interrupted; "but how does that
advance us?"
"Pardon me, Excellency, but I am acquainted with Indian habits. During
the fifteen years I have been traversing the desert in all directions
I have had time to study them, hence I believe myself in a position to
give you good advice."
"Speak, my friend, speak," the count exclaimed.
"Explain yourself, caballero," the young man said imploringly.
"One of two things will happen," the Canadian continued. "Either the
redskins have seized Doña Emilia and her daughter in order to massacre
them, or they have carried them off for the purpose of obtaining a
ransom. In the first place they will not kill them for a week, because
if it be a revenge, as you say, they desire to take on their enemies,
they will sacrifice their victims in the presence of the whole nation
assembled for a species of holiday, which will necessitate a great loss
of time in convening the scattered tribes. In the second case, you have
nothing to fear for the life of the ladies; and tomorrow, possibly
today, they will send to the hacienda a messenger to settle the amount
of ransom."
"Hum! What you do us the honour of telling us is doubtless very
sensible," the count remarked; "but I do not yet see the nature of the
advice you wish to give us."
"Patience," the Canadian continued with a shake of his head, "my
advice is this. Tomorrow, at sunrise, I will start for the Hacienda
del Barrio. If no Indian has appeared, after reporting the result of
my embassy, and warning Don Aníbal of what has happened, I will have a
talk with my friend Moonshine. He knows the Indians as well as I do,
perhaps better. Well, if he shares my opinion, we will both start on
the trail of the redskins, and they will be very cunning, I swear, if
we do not discover them. That is my advice."
"Yes," the count answered, "your reasoning is excellent, and the plan
you propose is the only one feasible; but what can two men do alone
against several hundreds? You will be killed without any advantage."
"Well, if you can hit on a better scheme, I shall not oppose it."
"I do not say that I can. I merely believe that your idea, good in
principle, is bad in its mode of execution; that is to say, where two
men would perish, ten or fifteen would infallibly succeed."
"But where will you find that number of men to volunteer running such
risks?"
"I will be the first," Don Melchior said warmly.
"And I the second," the count said more calmly.
"You?" the Canadian remarked, with surprise.
"Yes, I, my friend," he continued. "I have an old account to settle
with the redskins generally, and the Red Buffaloes particularly. They
are my enemies also. The marks of their claws have been for a long time
imprinted on my flesh. Who knows whether I shall not avenge myself,
while fancying that I am only avenging a friend?"
"Hence," said Don Melchior, "we will start tomorrow at sunrise."
"I alone," the Canadian answered; "your presence at the hacienda would
be more injurious than useful. Allow Don Aníbal's grief time to calm
before presenting yourself to him."
The young man felt the force of the adventurer's reasoning, and hung
his head sadly, though without offering any objection.
"I will accompany you, señor," said the count. "I trust that my
intervention with Don Aníbal will not prove in vain."
"What are you thinking of, Excellency? In the present state of affairs,
do you not fear being regarded as an enemy?"
"Politics have nothing to do with the step I propose taking in your
company, señor. Moreover, do you not remember that I have sworn never
more to serve the Spanish government? I am, therefore, free to act as I
please."
"I have no remarks to make to you on that subject, Excellency; perhaps
it is better that it should be so; besides, you know better than I do
what line of conduct you ought to hold."
"Believe me, my friend, that the one I am adopting is the best."
"Then," Don Melchior remarked, sadly, "you condemn me to remain here?"
"Yes, till you receive fresh orders, my friend," the Canadian said
good-humouredly; "but do not feel vexed, young gentleman; get well
again as quickly as you can, and you shall enter on the campaign
against the redskins in our company."
"Do you promise me that?" the young man asked, with a start of joy.
"I swear it, on the faith of Oliver Clary. You are too brave to be left
behind."
The young man thanked him warmly, and feeling easier in his mind,
he fell back on his bed, and was soon fast asleep. On the morrow at
sunrise the count and the Canadian entered the chamber of the wounded
man to take leave of him, but they found him dressed and ready to start.
"You know very well that you are not to accompany us."
"It is not my intention either," he answered.
"Still you are preparing to leave the hacienda."
"Yes, and probably at the same time as yourself."
"Hum!" said the Canadian, as he took a side glance at the young man,
whose handsome masculine face, pale with suffering, had an expression
of energetic will. "You seem quite resolved," he said.
"Whatever may happen, yes."
There was a silence.
"Very good," the Canadian continued; "wait for me here for six hours."
"What are you going to do?" Don Melchior exclaimed.
"On my return I will tell you: do you pledge me your word?"
"I do."
"Very good."
Without adding a word, Oliver went out, making the count a sign to
follow him.