Meanwhile, with many a crack of whip and cry of "_Anda!" "Mula
maldita_!" the miners have been toiling on towards the Lost Mountain.
At slow pace, a crawl; for their animals, jaded and distressed by the
long-endured thirst, have barely strength enough left to drag the wagons
after them. Even the pack-mules totter under their loaded _alparejas_.
Viewing the eminence from the place where they had pulled up, the mine
labourers, like the Englishman, had been inclined to doubt the guide's
allegation as to the distance. Men whose lives are for the most part
spent underground, are as sailors ashore when above it, oddly ignorant
of things on the surface, save what may be learnt inside a liquor
saloon. Hence their unbelief in Vicente's statement was altogether
natural. But the mule and cattle-drivers knew better, and that the
_gambusino_ was not deceiving them.
All come to this conclusion ere long, a single hour sufficing to
convince them of their mistake; at the end of which, though moving
continuously on, and making the best speed in their power, the mountain
seems far off as ever. And when a second hour has elapsed, the
diminution of distance is barely perceptible.
The sun is low down--almost touching the horizon--as they get near
enough to the Cerro to note its peculiar features; for peculiar these
are. Of oblong form it is; and, viewed sideways, bears resemblance to a
gigantic catafalque or coffin, its top level as the lid. Not smooth,
however, the horizontal line being broken by trees and bushes that stand
in shaggy silhouette against the blue background of sky. At all points
it presents a _facade_ grim and precipitous, here and there enamelled by
spots and streaks of verdure, wherever ledge or crevice gives plants of
the scandent kind an opportunity to strike root. It is about a mile in
length, trending nearly north and south, having a breadth of about half
this; and in height some five hundred feet. Not much for a mountain,
but enough to make it a conspicuous object, visible at a great distance
off over that smooth expanse of plain. All the more from its standing
solitary and alone; no other eminence within view of it, neither
_sierra_ nor spur; so looking as if strayed and _lost_--hence the quaint
appellation it bears.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"At which end is the lake, Senor Vicente?" asks the elder Tresillian, as
they are wending their way towards it; he, with Don Estevan and the
guide, as before, being in advance of the wagon train.
"The southern and nearer one, your worship. And luckily for us it is
so. If it were at the other end, we'd still have a traverse of a league
at least before reaching it."
"How's that? I've heard that the Cerro is only a mile in length."
"True, senor, that's all. But there are rocks strewn over the _llano_
below, for hundreds of yards out, and so thick we couldn't take the
wagons through them. I suppose they must have fallen from the cliffs,
but how they got scattered so far, that puzzles me, though rocks have
been the study of my life."
"So they have, Pedro," put in Don Estevan. "And you've studied them to
some purpose. But let us not enter into a geological discussion now. I
feel more concerned about something else."
"About what, your worship?"
"Some memory tells me that Indians are accustomed to visit the Cerro
Perdido. Though I can see no sign of human being about it, who knows
but there might be?"
This is said after examination of the plain all along the base of the
mountain through a field-glass, which Don Estevan habitually carries on
his person.
"Therefore," he continues, "I think it advisable that some five or six
ride ahead--those who are best mounted--and make sure that the coast is
clear. In case of redskins being there in any formidable numbers, the
knowledge of it in time will enable us to form _corral_, and so better
defend ourselves should we be attacked."
Before becoming a master miner, Don Estevan had been a soldier, and seen
service on the Indian frontier, in more than one campaign against the
three great hostile tribes, Comanches, Apache, and Navajo. For which
reason the _gambusino_, instead of making light of his counsel,
altogether approves of it--of course volunteering to be himself of the
reconnoitring party.
In fine, there is another short halt, while the scouts are being
selected; half a dozen men of spirit and mettle, whose horses are still
strong enough to show speed, should there be Indians and pursuit.
Of the half-dozen, Henry Tresillian is one; he coming up quick to the
call. No fear of his horse giving out, or failing to carry him safe
back if pursued, and whoever the pursuers. A noble animal of Arab
strain it is, coal-black, with a dash of dun-colour between the hips and
on either side of the muzzle. Nor shows it signs of distress, as the
others, notwithstanding all it has come through. For has not its young
master shared with it every ration of water served out along the way,
even the last one that morning?
In a few minutes the scouting party is told off, and, after receiving
full instructions, starts onward.
The elder Tresillian has made no objection to his son being of it;
instead, being rather proud of the spirit the latter is displaying, and
follows him with admiring eyes as he rides off.
Still another pair of eyes go after him, giving glances in which pride
and fear are strangely commingled. For they are those of Gertrudes
Villanueva. She is proud that he, whom her young heart is just learning
to love, should possess such courage, while apprehensive of what may
come of it.
"_Adelante_!" calls out the _mayor-domo_, who has chief charge of the
caravan; and once more there is a vigorous wielding of whips, with an
objurgation of mules, as the animals move reluctantly and laboriously
on.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
In twenty minutes after, all is changed with them. Horse and hybrid--
every animal in the train--have raised head and pricked up ears, with
nostrils distended. Even the horned cattle to rearward have caught the
infection, and low loudly in response to the neighing of the horses and
the hinneying of the mules. There is a very _fracas_ of noises, like a
Bedlam broke loose, the voice of the _mayor-domo_ rising above all as he
cries out,
"_Guarda, la estampeda_!"
And a "stampede" it becomes, all knowing the cause. The animals have
scented water, and no longer need whip-lash or cry to urge them on.
Instead, teamsters and _arrieros_ find it impossible to restrain them,
for it were a struggle against Nature itself. Taking the bits between
their teeth, and regardless of rein, horses, mules, all rush
simultaneously and madly forward, as if each had a score of gadflies
with their venomous probosces buried deep in its body.
A helter-skelter it is, with a loud hullaballoo, the heavily-laden
wagons drawn over the ground as light-like and with the velocity of
bicycles, and making noise as of thunder. For now, near the mountain's
foot, the plain is bestrewed with stones, some big enough to raise the
wheels on high, almost to overturning the vehicles, eliciting agonised
cries from the women and children inside them. No more are Indians
thought of for the time; enough danger without that, from upsets, broken
bones, indeed death.
In the end none of these eventualities arise. Luckily--and more by good
luck than guiding--the wagons keep their balance, and they within them
their places, till all come to a stand again. While still tearing on,
they see before them a disc of water lit up by the last rays of
departing sunlight, with half a dozen horsemen--the reconnoitring
party--drawn up on its edge, in attitude of wonder at their coming after
so soon.
But their animals, still in rush, give no opportunity for explanation.
On go they into the lake, horses, mules, and cattle mingled together;
nor stop till they are belly-deep, with the water up over their
nostrils. No more neighing nor lowing now, but all silent, swilling,
and contented.