THE PROPOSAL.
On the same night, almost at the same hour, the Jaguar, seated on a
modest oak equipal in his tent, with his elbow leaning on the table and
his head on his hand, was reading, by the light of a candle that emitted
but a dubious light, important despatches he had just received. Absorbed
in the perusal, the young Commander of the insurgents paid no attention
to the noises without, when suddenly a rather sharp puff of wind caused
the flame of the candle to flicker, and the shadow of a man was darkly
defined on the canvas of the tent.
The young man, annoyed at being disturbed, raised his head angrily, and
looked toward the entrance of the tent, with a frown that promised
nothing very pleasant for his inopportune intruder. But at the sight of
the man who stood in the door-way, leaning on a long rifle, and fixing
on him eyes that sparkled like carbuncles, the Jaguar restrained with
difficulty a cry of surprise, and made a move to seize the pistols
placed within reach on the table.
This man, whom we have already had occasion to present to the reader
under very grave circumstances, had nothing, we must confess, in his
appearance that spoke greatly in his favour. His stern glance, his harsh
face, rendered still harsher by his long white beard, his tall stature
and strange attire, all about him, in a word, inspired repulsion and
almost terror. The Jaguar's movement produced a sinister smile on his
pale lips.
"Why take up your weapons?" he said, in a hoarse voice, as he struck the
palm of his hand against his rifle barrel; "had I intended to kill you,
you would have been dead long ago."
The young man wheeled round his equipal, which brought him face to face
with the stranger. The two men examined each other for a moment with the
most minute attention.
"Have you looked at me enough?" the stranger at length asked.
"Yes," the Jaguar answered; "now tell me who you are, what brings you
here, and how you reached me."
"Those are a good many questions at once, still I will try to answer
them. Who am I? No one knows, and there are moments when I am myself
ignorant; I am an accursed, and a reprobate, prowling about the desert
like a wild beast in search of prey; the Redskins, whose implacable
enemy I am, and in whom I inspire a superstitious terror, call me the
Klein Stoman; is this information sufficient for you?"
"What?" the young man exclaimed utterly astounded, "The White Scalper!"
"I am the man," the stranger quietly answered; "I am also known at times
by the name of the Pitiless."
All this had been said by the old man in that monotonous and hoarse
voice peculiar to men who, deprived for a long time of the society of
their fellow men, have been restricted to a forced silence, and hence
speaking has become almost a labour to them. The Jaguar gave a start of
repulsion at the sight of this sinister man, whose mournful reputation
had reached him with all its horrors. His memory immediately recalled
all the traits of ferocity and cruelty imputed to this man, and it was
under the impression of this recollection that he said to him with an
accent of disgust he did not wish to conceal--
"What is there in common between you and me?"
The old man smiled sarcastically.
"God," he answered, "connects all men to each other by invisible bonds
which render them responsible one for the other; He willed it so, in His
supreme omniscience, in order to render society possible."
On hearing this wild, solitary man pronounce the name of Deity, and
utter so strange an argument, the Jaguar felt his surprise redoubled.
"I will not discuss the point with you," he said; "everyone in life
follows the path destiny has traced for him, and it does not belong to
me to judge you either favourably or unfavourably; still, I have the
right of denying any connection with you, whatever may be your feelings
toward me, or the motives that brought you hither; up to the present, we
have been strangers to each other, and I desire to remain so for the
future."
"What do you know of it? What certainty have you that this is the first
time we have been face to face? Man can no more answer for the past than
for the future; both are in the hands of One more powerful than him, of
Him who judges of actions immediately, and for whom there is only one
weight and one measure."
"I am astonished," the Jaguar answered, involuntarily interested, "that
the name of Deity should be so often on your lips."
"Because it is deeply engraved on my heart," the old man said with an
accent of gloomy sorrow which spread a veil of melancholy over his
austere features. "You said yourself that you would not judge me;
retain, if you will, the evil impression which the probable false
statements of others have made on you. I care little for the opinion of
men, for I recognise no other judge of my actions but my conscience."
"Be it so; but permit me to remark that time is rapidly slipping away,
night is advancing. I have serious business to attend to, and need to be
alone."
"In a word, you show me the door; unluckily, I am not disposed, for the
present, to accede to your request, or, if you prefer it, obey your
orders; I wish first to answer all your questions, and then, if you
still insist on it, I will retire."
"Take care, for this obstinacy on your part may lead to dangerous
consequences for you."
"Why threaten a man who does not insult you?" the old man replied with
undiminished coolness; "Do you fancy that I put myself out of the way
for nothing? No, no, serious motives bring me to you; and if I am not
mistaken, ere long you will allow that the time you are unwilling to
grant me, could not be better employed than in listening to me."
The Jaguar shrugged his shoulders impatiently; he felt a repugnance to
employ violence against a man who, after all, had in no way infringed on
the laws of politeness, and, spite of himself, a species of secret
presentiment warned him that the visit of this singular old man would be
useful to him.
"Speak then," he said a moment after, in the tone of a man who resigns
himself to endure a thing that displeases him, but which he cannot
elude; "but pray be brief."
"I am not so used to speaking as to find pleasure in making long
harangues," the Scalper replied; "I will only say things strictly
indispensable to be properly understood by you."
"Do so then without further preamble."
"Be it so. I now return to the second question you asked me: What reason
brought me here? I will tell you presently, but first answer your third
question--How I got here?"
"In truth," the Jaguar exclaimed, "that seems to me extraordinary."
"Not so extraordinary as you suppose; I might tell you that I am too old
a hand on the prairies not to foil the most vigilant sentries; but I
prefer confessing the truth, as it will be more profitable to you. You
have this night confided the guard of the camp to Apache dogs, who,
instead of watching, as they pledged themselves to do, are asleep on
their posts, so thoroughly that the first comer can enter your lines as
he thinks proper; and this is so true, that scarce two hours back a
party of eight went through the whole length of your camp, and entered
the hacienda, without encountering opposition from anyone."
"Viva Dios!" the Jaguar exclaimed, turning livid with passion; "Can it
possibly be so?"
"I am the proof of it, I fancy," the old man answered simply.
The young Chief seized his pistols, and made a hurried movement to rush
out, but the stranger restrained him.
"What good will it do," he said, "to pick a quarrel with your allies? It
is an accomplished fact, so it is better to undergo the consequences.
Still, let it serve you as a lesson to take better precautions another
time."
"But these men who crossed the camp?" the Jaguar said sharply.
"You have nothing to fear from them; they are poor devils of hunters,
who were probably seeking a refuge for the two women they brought with
them."
"Two women?"
"Yes, a white and an Indian; although they were dressed in male attire,
I recognized them the more easily, because I have been watching them for
a long time."
"Ah," said the Jaguar thoughtfully, "do you know any of these hunters?"
"Only one, who is, I believe, tigrero to the hacienda."
"Tranquil!" the Jaguar exclaimed with aft expression impossible to
render.
"Yes."
"In that case, one of the females is his daughter Carmela'"
"Probably."
"She is now, then, at the Larch-tree?"
"Yes."
"Oh," he burst out, "I must at all hazards carry that accursed
hacienda."
"That is exactly what I came to propose to you," the Scalper said
quietly.
The young man advanced a step.
"What do you say?" he asked.
"I say," the old man replied in the same tone, "that I have come to
propose to you the capture of the hacienda."
"You! It is impossible."
"Why so?"
"Because," the Jaguar went on with agitation, "the hacienda is well
fortified: it is defended by a numerous and brave garrison, commanded by
one of the best officers of the Mexican army, and for the seventeen days
I have been investing these accursed walls, I have been unable, despite
all my efforts, to take one forward step."
"All that is correct."
"Well?"
"I repeat my proposition."
"But how will you effect it?"
"That is my business."
"That is not an answer."
"I can give you no other."
"Still?"
"When force does not avail, stratagem must be employed; is not that your
opinion?"
"Yes; but one must have the necessary means in his hands."
"Well, I have them."
"To seize the hacienda?"
"I will introduce you into the interior--the rest is your affair."
"Oh, once inside, I will not leave it again."
"Then, you accept?"
"One moment."
"Do you hesitate?"
"I do."
"When I offer you an unexpected success?"
"For that very reason."
"I do not understand you."
"I will explain myself."
"Do so."
"It is not admissible that you have come to make such a proposal for my
sake, or that of the cause I serve."
"Perhaps not."
"Let us deal frankly. Whatever your character may be, you have a manner
of looking at things which renders you perfectly indifferent to the
chances, good or bad, of the struggle going on at this moment in this
unhappy country."
"You are quite correct."
"Am I not? You care little whether Texas be free or in slavery?"
"I admit it."
"You have, then, a reason for acting as you are now doing?"
"A man always has a reason."
"Very good; well, I wish to know that reason."
"And suppose I refuse to tell it to you?"
"I shall not accept your proposition."
"You will be wrong."
"That is possible."
"Reflect."
"I have reflected."
There was a moment's silence, which the old man interrupted--
"You are a suspicious and headstrong boy," he said to him, "who,
through a false feeling of honour, risk losing an opportunity which you
will probably never find again."
"I will run the risk; I wish to be frank with you; I only know you from
very ill reports; your reputation is execrable, and nothing proves to me
that, under the pretext of serving me, you may not be laying a snare for
me."
The old man's pale face was covered by a sudden flush at these rude
words, a nervous tremor agitated all his limbs; but, by a violent
effort, he succeeded in mastering the emotion he experienced, and after
a few minutes, he replied in a calm voice, in which, however, there
remained some traces of the tempest that growled hoarsely in his heart--
"I forgive you," he said; "you had a right to speak to me as you did,
and I cannot be angry with you. Time is slipping away, it is nearly one
in the morning; it will soon be too late to execute the bold plan I have
formed; I will therefore only add one word--reflect before answering me,
for on that answer my resolution, depends. The motive that urges me to
offer to introduce you to the hacienda is quite personal, and in no way
affects or concerns you."
"But what guarantee can you offer me on the sincerity of your
intentions?"
The old man walked a step forward, drew himself up to his full height,
stamped with an accent of supreme majesty--
"My word, the word of a man who, whatever may be said about him, has
never failed in what he owes himself; I swear to you on my honour,
before that God in whose presence you and I will probably soon appear,
that my intentions are pure and loyal, without any thought of treachery.
Now, answer, what is your resolve?"
While uttering these words, the old man's attitude, gestures, and race
were imprinted with such nobility and grandeur, that he seemed
transfigured. In spite of himself, the Jaguar was affected: he felt
himself led away by this accent, which seemed to him to come straight
from the heart.
"I accept," he said in a firm voice.
"I expected it," the old man replied; "in young and generous natures
good feelings always find an echo. You will not repent the confidence
you give me."
"Here is my hand," the young man said passionately; "press it without
fear, for it is that of a friend."
"Thanks," the old man said, as a burning tear beaded on his eyelashes;
"that word repays me for much suffering and sorrow."
"Now, explain your plan to me."
"I will do so in two words; but, ere we discuss the plan we shall adopt,
collect noiselessly three or four hundred men, so that we may be able to
start immediately we have come to an understanding."
"You are right."
"I need not advise you to be prudent; your men must assemble in the
utmost silence. Take no Redskins with you, for they would be more
injurious than useful. I am not desirous to be seen by them, for you
know that I am their enemy."
"Do not trouble yourself, I will act as you wish."
The Jaguar went out, and remained away for about a quarter of an hour;
during that time the White Scalper remained motionless in the centre of
the tent, leaning pensively on his rifle barrel, the butt of which
rested on the ground. Soon could be heard outside something like the
imperceptible buzzing of bees in a hive. It was the camp awakening. The
Jaguar came in again.
"Now," he said, "the order is given; within a quarter of an hour, four
hundred men will be under arms."
"That is a longer period than I need for what I have to say to you; my
plan is most simple, and if you follow it point for point, we shall
enter the hacienda without striking a blow; listen to me attentively."
"Speak."
The old man drew an equipal up to the table at which the Jaguar was
standing, sat down, placed his rifle between his legs, and began--
"For very many years I have known the Larch-tree hacienda. Owing to
events too long to tell you, and which would but slightly interest you,
I was resident in it for nearly a year as Major-domo. At that period the
father of the present owner was still living, and for sundry reasons had
the greatest confidence in me. You are aware that at the period of the
conquest, when the Spaniards built these haciendas, they made them
fortresses rather than farmhouses, as they were compelled to defend
themselves nearly daily against the aggressions of the Redskins; now,
you must know that in such a fortress there is a masked gate, a secret
sally port, which, if necessary, the garrison employ, either to receive
reinforcements or provisions, or to evacuate the place, should it be too
closely invested."
"Oh," the Jaguar said, smiting his forehead, "can the hacienda have one
of these sally ports?"
"Patience, let me go on."
"But look," the young man objected, "here is the detailed plan of the
Larch-tree, made by a man whose family have lived there for three
generations from father to son, and there is nothing of the sort marked
on it."
The old man gave a careless glance at the plan the young man showed him.
"Because," he replied, "the secret is generally known to the owner of
the hacienda alone; but let me finish."
"Speak, speak."
"These sally ports, so useful at the time of the conquest, became
eventually perfectly neglected, owing to the long peace that reigned in
the country; then, by degrees, as they served no purpose, the
recollection of them was totally lost, and I am convinced that the
majority of the hacienderos at the present day are ignorant of the
existence of these secret gates in their habitation; the owner of the
Larch-tree is one of the number."
"How do you know? Perhaps the gate is blocked up, or at least defended
by a strong detachment."
The old man smiled.
"No," he said, "the gate is not stopped up, nor is it guarded."
"Are you certain?"
"Did I not tell you that I have been prowling about the neighbourhood
for some days?"
"I do not remember it."
"I wished to assure myself of the existence of this gate, which an
accident led me to discover in former days."
"Well?"
"I have sought it, found it, and opened it."
"Viva Dios!" the Jaguar shouted joyfully; "In that case the hacienda is
ours."
"I believe so, unless a fatality or a miracle occur--two things equally
improbable."
"But where is this gate situated?"
"As usual, at a spot where it is the most unlikely to suspect its
existence. Look," he added, bending over the plan, "the hacienda, being
built on a height, runs a risk in the event of a long siege of seeing
its wells dry up--does it not?"
"Yes."
"Very good. The river on this side runs along the foot of the rocks on
which its walls are built."
"Yes, yes," said the young man, who was eagerly following the
indications made by the old man.
"Judging rightly," he went on, "that on this side the hacienda was
impregnable, you contented yourself with establishing on the river bank
a few outposts, intended to watch the enemy's movements."
"Any flight on that side is impossible--in the first place, owing to the
height of the walls; and next, through the river, which forms a natural
trench."
"Well, the gate by which we shall enter is among those very rocks,
almost on a level with the water; it opens into a natural grotto, the
entrance of which is so obstructed by creepers, that from the opposite
bank it is impossible to suspect its existence."
"At length," the Jaguar exclaimed, "this redoubt, which has hitherto
been one of the links of the heavy chain riveted round Texas, will be
tomorrow one of the most solid barriers of her independence. May Heaven
be praised for permitting so brilliant a triumph to crown our efforts!"
"I hope to see you master of the place before sunrise."
"May Heaven hear you!"
"Now, we will start whenever you please."
"At once, at once."
They then left the tent. According to the Jaguar's orders, John Davis
had roused four hundred men, chosen from the boldest and most skilful
fellows of the force. They were drawn up a few paces from the tent,
motionless and silent. Their rifles, whose barrels were bronzed lest
they might emit any denunciatory gleams in the moonbeams, were piled in
front of them.
The officers formed a group apart. They were conversing together in a
low voice, with considerable animation, not at all understanding the
orders they had received, and not knowing for what reason the Chief had
them awakened. The Jaguar advanced toward them, and the officers fell
back. The young man, followed by the Scalper, entered the circle, which
at once closed up again. John Davis, on perceiving the old man, whom he
at once recognised, uttered a stifled cry of surprise.
"Caballeros," the Jaguar said, in a low voice, "we are about to attempt
a surprise, which, if it succeed, will render us masters of the hacienda
almost without a blow."
A murmur of surprise ran round the circle.
"A person in whom I have the most entire confidence," the Jaguar
continued, "has revealed to me the existence of a secret gate, not known
to the garrison, which will give us access to the fort. Each of you will
now take the command of his men. Our march must be as silent as that of
Indian warriors on the war trail. You have understood me fully, so I
count on your aid. In the event of separation, the watchword will be
_Texas y libertad_ To your posts."
The circle was broken up, and each officer placed himself at the head of
his men. John Davis then went up to the Jaguar.
"One word," he said to him, bending to his ear to speak. "Do you know
who that man is, standing close to you?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
"It is the White Scalper."
"And you trust to him?"
"Entirely."
The American tossed his head.
"Was it he who revealed to you the existence of the sally port by which
we are to enter?"
"Yes."
"Take care."
In his turn, the Jaguar shrugged his shoulders.
"You are mad," he said.
"Well, that is possible," John replied; "but for all that, I will watch
him."
"As you please."
"Well, let us be off."
The American followed his Chief, casting a parting look of suspicion on
the old man. The latter did not seem to trouble himself at all about
this aside. Apparently indifferent to what went on around him, he
waited, quietly leaning on his rifle, till it pleased the Jaguar to give
the command for departure. At length, the word "march" ran from rank to
rank, and the column started.
These men, the majority of whom were accustomed to long marches in the
desert, placed their feet so softly on the ground, that they seemed to
glide along like phantoms, so silent was their march. At this moment, as
if the sky wished to be on their side, an immense black cloud spread
across the heavens and interrupted the moonbeams, substituting, almost
without transition, a deep obscurity for the radiance that previously
prevailed, and the column disappeared in the gloom. A few paces ahead of
the main body, the Jaguar, White Scalper, and John Davis marched side by
side.
"Bravo!" the young man muttered; "Everything favours us."
"Let us wait for the end," the American growled, whose suspicions, far
from diminishing, on the contrary were augmented from moment to moment.
Instead of leaving the camp on the aide of the hacienda, whose gloomy
outline was designed, sinister and menacing, on the top of the hill, the
Scalper made the column take a long circuit, which skirted the rear of
the camp. The deepest silence prevailed on the plain, the camp and
hacienda seemed asleep, not a light gleamed in the darkness, and it
might be fancied, on noticing so profound a calm, that the plain was
deserted; but this factitious calm held a terrible tempest, ready to
burst forth at the first signal.
These men, who walked on tiptoe, sounding the darkness around them, and
with their finger placed on the rifle trigger, felt their hearts beat
with impatience to come into collision with their enemies. It was a
singular coincidence, a strange fatality, which caused the besiegers and
besieged to attempt a double surprise at the same hour, almost at the
same moment, and send blindly against each other men who on either side
advanced with the hope of certain success, and convinced that they were
about to surprise asleep the too confident enemy, whom they burned to
massacre.
So soon as they had left the camp, the insurgents drew near the river,
whose banks, covered with thick bushes and aquatic plants, would have
offered them, even in bright day, a certain shelter from the Mexicans.
On coming within about half a league of the entrenchments, the column
halted; the Scalper advanced alone a few yards, and then rejoined the
Jaguar.
"We shall have to cross the river here," he said; "there is a ford, and
the men will only be up to their waists in water."
And, giving the example, the old man stepped into the bed of the river.
The others followed immediately, and, as the Scalper had announced, the
water was only up to their waists. They passed threes in front, and
closing up the ranks, so as to resist the rather strong current, which,
without these precautions, might have carried them away. Five minutes
later, the whole band was collected in the interior of the grotto, at
the end of which was the secret door.
"The moment has arrived," the Jaguar then said, "to redouble our
prudence; let us avoid, if it be possible, bloodshed. Not a word must be
uttered, or a shot fired, without my orders, under penalty of death."
Then, turning to the White Scalper, he said, in a firm voice--"Now, open
the door!"
There was a moment of supreme anxiety for the insurgents, who awaited
with a quiver of impatience the downfall of the frail obstacle that
separated them from their enemies.