The scene, all action and excitement, has nevertheless occupied but a
brief space of time: scarce two minutes since the grizzly bears first
showed themselves on the edge of the glade till both lie dead within
it--victims of their own ferocity.
It might have been very different, and under like circumstances nearly
always is. Many cases are recorded in which half a score of camp
travellers have succumbed to the insane rage of a single grizzly.
Fortunate, too, had been the miners in their shots--no doubt clue to the
short range at which they were fired--for the thick, tough skin of this
animal is almost ball-proof, and one has been known to bear off a dozen
bullets in its body, and carry them about with it afterwards.
The very openness of their danger, with no prospect of escaping it, had
lent to the miners the courage of despair, and so made them more
fearless in their attack; otherwise they would have fired at the enemy
without approaching so near, perhaps to fail. Enough damage has been
done notwithstanding, and a cry of lamentation succeeds the shots, and
general shouting, as the women gather around the body of that single
victim to the fury of the bears. Frightfully mutilated it is, showing
parallel tears over the breast--the tracks of claws, all running blood,
and a huge gash by the throat where the first stroke had been given.
"_Esta Pablito Rojas_!" cries a voice, identifying the lad, others
adding in sympathetic chorus, "_Pobre! pobre-ceti_!"
There is one who takes no part in these demonstrations--Henry
Tresillian. He is in fact no longer in the camp, for soon as the second
grizzly had been disposed of, he started back for the vidette post, and
so abruptly as to make all wonder who were observing him. Among the
rest Gertrude herself, who thought it strange he should not stay to
speak some words of congratulation. He but muttered one or two, with
the name of his horse, well known to her, and was off.
Now, from his former point of view, he again beholds Crusader standing
just as left, and still to all appearance unmolested. It is more than
he expected, but there may be reasons: possibly the shouts and fusillade
above have for a time drawn the attention of the Indians in that
direction. This will not be for long, and Crusader's master but counts
the moments till he see him assailed and chased.
Nor are they many. Just after his return to the ravine's head he
observes nigh threescore dusky horsemen move out beyond the flanking
embattlement of rock; not hastily, nor in confusion, but in deliberate
and long deployed line, which stretches afar over the _llano_.
Crusader sees them too, and seems to regard them with indifference; he
has taken to browsing on a piece of rich pasture lying along the
stream's edge, this alone for the time occupying him. That he is the
objective point of their movement is evident, though none of them are
heading straight towards him, their design being evidently to get around
him.
After all, is he going to let himself be surrounded, and approached in
this easy manner? Such is the interrogatory which passes among those
watching from above, for the videttes have returned to their post, with
others accompanying them.
One answers it, saying, "It's not at all likely. He let himself be
taken in a trap! More like the redskins will find themselves in one
before long. See! they begin to find it now!"
This, from Pedro Vicente in his old spirit, as he points to the line of
savages far extended.
The files have by this faced westward, but are advancing towards the
stream; now, on nearing it, they are seen to stop abruptly as if in
surprise. Then, after an instant, all wheel round and ride back
eastward, till getting on their old line, they return at a gallop
towards their camp. They have discovered the stream to be impassable.
"That horse is the _demonio_ himself," says Pedro Vicente--"neither more
nor less. He must have known they could not cross the swollen
streamlet, or he'd never have stopped by it as he has done. But they've
not given him up yet. No! see: they're going round by the head of the
lake."
Just this they intend, as is seen by their advancing towards the point
where the lake commences by the mouth of the ravine. They have no
difficulty in crossing its in-going stream, a few minutes after the rain
ceased having reduced this to its normal condition of a tiny rivulet.
And like some dark, disagreeable vision Henry Tresillian sees pass
before his eyes the savage cohort, file after file, one disappearing
after another, till at length no animated form is observable on the
plain below, save that their eyes have been hitherto regarding with
interest.
There is a long interval without event; nearly an hour elapses ere
Crusader shows any sign, his head almost continuously to the grass,
raised only occasionally, as he changes place upon it. All this time
the Indians are out of sight, with no sound coming from the direction
they had taken.
But at length there is a sound, a startled neigh from the black horse,
who, tossing his crest in air, rears upward with a curving sweep, and
then darts straight away, as if in flight from an advancing enemy--the
enemy seen instantly afterwards as several mounted men disclose
themselves from the western framework of rock, all in a tail-on-end
gallop.
Crusader has taken along the edge of the stream, and follows it in
parallel direction downwards, just as he fled before from the same
pursuers. There would seem no chance of their overtaking him now; for
he appears to gain distance at every bound, without even straining
himself. But lo! what is that?
"_Santos Dios_! They've headed him. _Milraya_! what a pity!"
It is the _gambusino_ who thus exclaims, seeing other horsemen on the
plain farther points on, all facing towards the stream, evidently to
intercept the chased steed.
Crusader sees them too, for he is now close up to them; but forsaking
the course he has hitherto followed, he makes an abrupt turn and breaks
off westward, continuing this direction in full gallop, till the rocks
hide him from view.
Alike the pursuers thrown round, pass out of sight one after another,
and again that part of the _llano_ resumes its wonted aspect of stern,
savage tranquillity.
For most of those composing the party of spectators the chase had no
particular interest, and only a few of them were gathered around the
point where it could be viewed. Indeed, but a few heard of Crusader
being seen, the greater and more serious event obscuring that of lesser
note. And now these few, one after the other, again go back to _ojo de
agua_, to take part in the duties of the day.
But the English youth still stays by the vidette post, with eye
constantly directed on the plain below, and ears listening intently, to
catch any sound that may come from the western side; apprehensively,
too, for he fears to hear shots.
The savages failing to catch the black horse with their laryettes, may
spitefully endeavour to bring him down with their guns. This, indeed,
is the real clanger his young master has been dreading, and which for
the time engrosses all his thoughts.
Luckily not for long. Within less than an hour the dusky horsemen, in
twos and threes, come straggling back across the open ground between the
lake's head and their camp, so continuing till the last of them have
returned, all with discomfited air, but none with Crusader as their
captive. And as no report of gun has been heard, it is more than
probable he has once more eluded them.