THE MARRIAGE.
When the two hunters returned to the rancho, Tranquil looked at Loyal
Heart.
"Well," he said to him, "and what are you going to do?"
"Well," the other replied with a smile, "the same as you are going to do
yourself, I suppose, sleep--for it is close on two o'clock." But
noticing the Canadian's anxious air, he hurriedly added--"Pardon me,
friend, I forget that you have made a long journey to find me here, and
that, probably, you have important matters to communicate to me. Well!
if you do not feel too fatigued, I will rekindle the fire, we will sit
down by the brasero, and I will listen to you; I do not feel at all
disposed for sleep, and the present hour is admirably adapted for
confidence."
Tranquil gently shook his head.
"I thank you for your kindness, my friend," he said; "but, on
reflection, I prefer deferring the conversation till tomorrow; I have no
serious motive that compels me to speak at this moment, and a few hours,
more or less, will have no influence in the events I have cause to
fear."
"You know better than I do the conduct best suited to you under the
circumstances. I merely repeat that I am quite at your service whatever
you may be pleased to do."
"Let us sleep," the Canadian answered, with a smile. "Tomorrow, after
our visit to Blackbird, we will hold a palaver."
"Be it so, my friend, I will not press you; here is your bed," he added,
pointing to the pile of furs.
"It is rare for me to have so good a one in the desert," said Tranquil.
The two men then lay down fraternally side by side, placed their weapons
within reach, and ere long the calmness of their breathing indicated
that they were asleep. Nothing disturbed the repose they enjoyed, and
the night passed quietly. A few minutes before sunrise Loyal Heart
awoke; a feeble light was beginning to penetrate into the rancho,
through the windows, which had no sheltering or curtains. The hunter
rose, and at the moment when he was going to awake his comrade, the
latter opened his eyes.
"Ah, ah!" Loyal Heart said, "You are a very light sleeper, my friend."
"It is an old hunter's habit, which I think I should find it difficult
to get rid of, unless I remained a long time with you."
"What prevents your doing so? Such a determination would cause great
pleasure to my mother and myself."
"Do not form plans, my boy; you know that with us wood rangers we can
hardly call the present moment our own, and it would be utter madness
for us to enter on the future. We will revert to this subject; but now
believe we have something more important to attend to."
"We have to perform the commission Black-deer entrusted to us; are you
still of a mind to help me?"
"Certainly: the Chiefs of the tribe received me with too much courtesy
for me not to eagerly take the first opportunity that offers to testify
to them the lively sympathy I feel for them."
"Well, as it is so, go to your comrades, get ready to mount, and wait
for me; I shall join them directly at their calli."
"All right," Tranquil answered.
The two men left the house; No Eusebio had deserted his hammock, and was
probably attending to household duties. The Canadian went straight to
the calli lent his comrades by the Indians.
Day had by this time entirely broken; the curtains of the callis were
raised one after the other, and the Indian squaws were beginning to
emerge to go in quest of the necessary wood and water for the
preparation of breakfast. Small parties of warriors were going off in
different directions, some to indulge in the pleasures of the chase,
others to beat the forest and be certain that there was no enemy's trail
in the vicinity of the village.
At the moment when the Canadian passed in front of the Medicine lodge,
the sorcerer of the tribe came out of it. He held in his hand a
calabash filled with water, in which a bunch of wormwood was dipped. The
sorcerer ascended to the roof of the Medicine lodge, and turned to the
rising sun. At the same instant the hachesto shouted three different
times in a powerful voice, "The sun! The sun! The sun!"
A warrior then came out of each calli, holding in his hand, like the
sorcerer, a calabash of water with a bunch of wormwood. The sorcerer
began an incantation by murmuring mysterious words which he alone
comprehended, and sprinkling the four cardinal points with the wormwood,
an operation imitated exactly by the warriors. Then, at a signal given
by the sorcerer, all the men threw the contents of the calabash towards
the sun, shouting at the same time, "Oh, sun! Thou visible
representative of the Invisible Master of Life! protect us on this
commencing day! Give us water, air, and fire, for the earth belongs to
us, and we can defend it!"
After this haughty prayer the warriors re-entered their callis, and the
sorcerer descended from his elevated post. Tranquil, who was perfectly
conversant with Indian customs, had stopped and waited, in a respectful
attitude, the end of the ceremony. When the sorcerer had disappeared in
the Medicine lodge, the hunter resumed his walk. The inhabitants of the
village, already affected to regard him as one of themselves; they
saluted him with a smile and a pleasant word as he passed, and the
children ran up laughing to bid him good-day. When Tranquil entered the
calli his comrades were still asleep, but he soon roused them.
"Hilloh!" John Davis said, good-humouredly, "You are very early, old
hunter. Are we going to make any expedition?"
"Not that I know of, for the present, at any rate," the Canadian
answered; "we are merely going to accompany Loyal Heart, while he
accomplishes a ceremony."
"What is up, then?"
"The marriage of our friend Black-deer. I supposed it to be good policy
not to refuse our aid, especially as you, Davis, have an interest in
getting into the good graces of the Indians."
"I should think so. But tell me, old hunter, have you consulted with our
friend on the matter that brings me here?"
"Not yet: various reasons urged me to wait for a favourable moment."
"As you please; but you know the matter is pressing."
"I know it, and you can trust to me."
"Oh! I leave you to act entirely as you please. What are we to do now?"
"Nothing but mount our horses, and wait till Loyal Heart comes to fetch
us. He has undertaken the management of the ceremony."
"Well, that is not very difficult," the American said, with a laugh.
In an instant the hunters were up, performed their ablutions, and
saddled their horses. They had scarce mounted, ere a great noise of
shells, drums, and chichikouès, mingled with shouts of joy, shots, and
the sharp barking of all the dogs in the village, announced the arrival
of Loyal Heart. The young Chief advanced at the head of a numerous
procession of Indian warriors, dressed in their most magnificent
costumes, armed and painted for war, and mounted on superb mustangs,
which they caused to curvet with marks of the most lively delight. The
procession halted before the calli.
"Well," Loyal Heart asked, "are you ready?"
"We are waiting for you," Tranquil answered.
"Come on, then."
The five hunters placed themselves by the side of their friend, and the
procession started once more. The Indians saw with a lively feeling of
pleasure the strange hunters join them; the part Loyal Heart and
Tranquil took in the ceremony especially caused them great joy, and
inspired them with considerable pride, by proving to them that their
Paleface friends, far from despising their customs, or displaying an
indifference towards them, took an interest in the ceremony, and
evidenced their sympathy with the Comanches by accepting a place in the
procession.
Loyal Heart proceeded straight to Blackbird's calli, in front of which a
fire had been lighted, and the Chief's family were seated silent and
motionless round it. Blackbird, dressed in his grand warpaint, and
mounted on his battle charger, rode at the head of some twenty warriors
of his family, whom it was easy to recognize as renowned warriors and
great braves by the numerous wolf tails with which their heels were
adorned. At the moment when the procession reached the great square, a
solitary horseman, with a gloomy air and haughty demeanour, was crossing
it, and proceeding toward the council lodge. It was Blue-fox. At the
sight of the procession a smile of undefinable meaning played round his
lips, and he halted to let the Comanche warriors defile before him.
Tranquil whispered to Loyal Heart--
"Be on your guard against that man; if I am not greatly mistaken, his
mission is only a trap, and he meditates some treachery."
"That is my notion too," the hunter replied; "that gloomy face forebodes
nothing good; but the council are warned, and watch him closely."
"I have known him for a long time, he is a thorough-paced villain. I
would not let him out of my sight, were I in your place. But we have
reached our destination, so let us attend to our own business."
Loyal Heart raised his arm; at this signal the music, if such a name can
be given to the abominable row made by all these instruments, which,
held by unskilful hands, produced the most discordant sounds, was silent
as if by enchantment. The warriors then seized their war whistles, and
produced a shrill and prolonged note thrice. A similar whistle was
immediately given by Blackbird's party. When the procession halted, a
vacant space of about twenty yards was left between the two bands, and
Loyal Heart and Tranquil advanced alone into this space, making their
horses prance and brandishing their weapons, amid the joyous applause of
the crowd, which admired their skill and good countenance. Blackbird and
two of his comrades then left their party and rode to meet the hunters,
and the five men halted at about halfway. Loyal Heart, after saluting
the Chief respectfully, was the first to speak.
"I see that my father is a great Chief," he said; "his head is covered
by the sacred feathered cap of the band of the old dogs; numerous
exploits are painted on his broad chest; the wolf tails fastened to his
heels make a hole in the ground, so many are they. My father must be one
of the greatest braves of the Antelope Comanches: he will tell us his
name, that I may remember it as that of a Chief of renown in the
council, and brave and terrible in combat."
The Chief smiled proudly at this point-blank compliment; he bowed with
dignity, and answered--
"My son is young, and yet wisdom dwells in him; his arm is strong in
fight, and his tongue is not forked; his renown has reached me; my
brothers call him Loyal Heart. Blackbird is happy to see him. What
motive brings Loyal Heart to Blackbird with so large a party, when the
heart of the Chief is sad, and a cloud has spread over his mind?"
"I know," Loyal Heart answered, "that the Chief is sad, and am aware of
the motive of his grief. I have come with the braves who accompany me to
restore tranquillity to the mind of the Chief, and change his sorrow
into joy."
"My son Loyal Heart will then explain himself without further delay; he
knows that a man of heart never plays with the grief of an aged man."
"I know it, and will explain myself without further delay. My father is
rich, the Wacondah has always regarded him with a favourable eye; his
family is numerous, his sons are already brave warriors, his daughters
are virtuous and lovely; one of them, the fairest, perhaps, but
certainly the one most beloved, was violently carried off last night by
Black-deer."
"Yes," the Chief answered, "a Comanche warrior bore away my daughter
Bounding Fawn, and fled with her into the forest."
"That warrior is Black-deer."
"Black-deer is one of the most celebrated warriors and wisest Chiefs of
my nation. My heart leaped toward him. Why did he carry off my child?"
"Because Black-deer loves Bounding Fawn; a great brave has the right to
take anywhere the wife who pleases him, if he is rich enough to pay her
father for her. Blackbird cannot object to that."
"If such be Black-deer's intention, if he offer me a ransom such as a
warrior like him ought to pay to a Chief like myself, I will allow that
he has acted in an honourable way, and that his intentions were pure; if
not, I shall be an implacable enemy to him, because he will have
betrayed my confidence and deceived my hopes."
"Blackbird must not hastily judge his friend; I am ordered by Black-deer
to pay for Bounding Fawn such a ransom as few Chiefs have ever before
received."
"What is the ransom? Where is it?"
"The warriors who accompany me have brought it with them; but before
delivering it to my father, I will remark, that he has not invited me to
sit down by his fire, or offered me the calumet."
"My son will sit down by my fire, and I will share the calumet with him
when the mission he is intrusted with is finished."
"Be it so; my father shall be immediately satisfied."
Loyal Heart, turning to the warriors, who during this conversation,
which was sternly demanded by the laws of Indian etiquette, had stood
silent and motionless, raised his hand. At once several horsemen left
the procession and pranced up to him, brandishing their weapons.
"The ransom!" he merely said.
"One moment," Blackbird objected; "of what does this ransom consist?"
"You shall see," Loyal Heart replied.
"I know that, but should prefer being informed beforehand."
"For what reason?"
"Wah! That I may be in a position to refuse it if I find it unworthy of
you."
"You ought not to have such a fear."
"That is possible, still I adhere to what I said."
"As you please," said Loyal Heart.
We must here disclose one of the bad sides of the Indian character. The
Redskins are extraordinarily rapacious and avaricious. With them wealth
is everything--not wealth as we understand it in our country, for they
know not the value of gold: that metal, so precious to us, is as nothing
in their eyes; but furs, arms, and horses constitute for these warriors
veritable wealth, which they appreciate at its full value. Hence the
transactions between the white men and natives become daily more
difficult, from the fact that the Indians, seeing with what ardour the
peltry dealers seek furs, have attached so high a value to that
merchandise, that it is almost impossible for the traders to obtain it;
hence arises, to a great extent, the hatred of the whites for the
Redskins, who track, scalp, and kill the trappers whenever they meet
with them, in order to destroy competition.
Blackbird was an Indian of the old school, gifted with a smart dose of
avarice. The worthy Chief was not sorry, before pledging his word, to
know what he had to depend on, and if he would make as good a bargain as
was stated. This is why he had insisted on the objects comprising the
ransom being shown him. Loyal Heart was perfectly acquainted with his
man, and hence was not much affected by his demand; he merely ordered
the bearers of the ransom to approach.
This ransom had been prepared for a long period by Black-deer, and was
really magnificent; it consisted of four mares in foal, four others
which had never bred, a three-year old charger, a mustang with slim legs
and flashing eye, four muskets, each with twelve charges of powder; and
four white female buffalo hides, a colour very rare, and greatly
esteemed in this country. As the several articles were presented to the
old Chief, his eye dilated under the influence of joy, and flashed with
a wild lustre. He required to make extraordinary efforts to preserve the
decorum necessary under such circumstances, and confine in his heart the
pleasure he felt. When all the presents had been given and placed by him
under the immediate guard of his relatives and friends, Loyal Heart
spoke again.
"Is my father satisfied?" he asked him.
"Wah!" the old Chief shouted with delight. "My son, Black-deer, is a
great brave; he did right to carry off Bounding Fawn, for she is really
his."
"Will my father bear witness to that?" the hunter pressed him.
"This very moment," the Chief answered eagerly; "and before all the
warriors here present."
"Let my father do so, then, that all may know that Black-deer is no
false-tongued thief; and when he declares that Bounding Fawn is his
squaw, no one will have the right to say that it is not true."
"I will do so," Blackbird answered.
"Good! my father will follow us."
"I will follow you."
Blackbird then placed himself at the right of Loyal Heart, the band of
warriors who accompanied him joined the procession, and all proceeded
toward the ark of the first man, at the foot of which the hachesto was
standing, holding in his hand the totem of the tribe. The sorcerer was
standing in front of the totem, having on either side of him two Sachems
chosen from among the wisest of the nation.
"What do you want here?" the sorcerer asked loyal Heart, when the latter
halted about two yards from him with the procession.
"We demand justice," the hunter replied.
"Speak! We will give you that justice, whatever the consequences may
be," the sorcerer said. "Well reflect before speaking, lest you may
presently regret your precipitation."
"We shall only have to repent of one thing, and that is not having
appeared before you earlier."
"My ears are open."
"We wish that justice should be done to a warrior, whose reputation
attempts have been made to tarnish."
"Who is the warrior?"
"Black-deer."
"Is his medicine good?"
"His medicine is good."
"Is he a brave?"
"He is a great brave."
"What has he done?"
"Last night he carried off Bounding Fawn, the daughter of Blackbird here
present."
"Good! Has he paid a fine ransom?"
"Let Blackbird himself answer."
"Yes," the old Chief here said, "I will answer. Black-deer is a great
warrior, he has paid a noble ransom."
"In that case," said the sorcerer, "my son is satisfied?"
"I am satisfied."
There was a momentary silence, during which the sorcerer consulted in a
whisper with the Sachems who acted as assessors. At length he spoke
again.
"Black-deer is a great warrior," he said in a loud voice. "I, the
medicine man, standing beneath the totem of the tribe, declare, that he
has employed the right all renowned warriors possess of seizing their
property wherever they may find it. From this moment Bounding Fawn is
the squaw of Black-deer, to prepare his food, clean his weapons, carry
his burdens, and take care of his war-chargers, and whoever says the
contrary speaks falsely! Black-deer has the right to convey Bounding
Fawn to his calli, and no one can prevent it; he is empowered, if she
deceive him, to cut off her nose and ears. Blackbird will give two
female buffalo hides to be hung up in the great medicine lodge."
At this final clause, known beforehand, however, for everything is
strictly regulated by the code of etiquette in the matter of marriage,
Blackbird made a frightful grimace. It seemed to him hard to part with
two of the hides he had received but a few moments previously. But Loyal
Heart came to his assistance, and interposed in a way that brought the
smile back to his lips.
"Black-deer," he said in a loud voice, "loves Bounding Fawn, and will
only owe her to himself--he alone will pay the tribute to the Wacondah;
not two, but four female buffalo hides will be given to the medicine
lodge."
He made a sign, and a warrior advanced, bearing the hides across his
horse's neck. Loyal Heart took them and offered them to the sorcerer.
"My father will receive these skins," he said; "he will make such use of
them as will be most agreeable to the Master of Life."
At this unexpected generosity, the audience burst into shouts of
frenzied joy. The shells, drums, and chichikouès recommenced their
infernal noise, and the procession set out again for Blackbird's calli.
The old chief knew too well what he owed to himself, and the son-in-law
he had just accepted, not to behave with proper decorum in spite of his
avarice. When the procession reached the calli, he therefore said, in a
loud voice--
"My brothers and friends, deign to honour with your presence the
marriage banquet, and I shall be happy to see you take part in it. My
son Black-deer will come, I feel convinced, to give the feast that
family appearance which it ought to have."
He had scarce uttered the words, when a great noise was heard. The crowd
parted violently, and in the space left free a horseman appeared,
galloping at full speed: he held a woman on his horse's neck with one
hand, while with the other he led a filly. At the sight of the horseman,
the shouts and applause were redoubled, for everybody recognised
Black-deer. On reaching the calli he leapt to the ground without
uttering a syllable; then he drew his scalping knife and buried it in
the neck of the filly. The poor brute gave a plaintive whining, trembled
violently, and sank to the ground. The chief then turned it on its back,
ripped open its chest, and tearing out the still quivering heart, he
touched Bounding Fawn's forehead with it, while shouting in a voice loud
enough to be heard by all the spectators.
"This is my squaw; woe to the man who touches her."
"I am his," the young wife then said.
The official ceremony was over: Black-deer and Bounding Fawn were
married according to the rites of Comanche law. All dismounted, and the
marriage feast began. The white men, who were not very eager to eat
their portion of this Indian meal, composed in great measure of dog,
boiled milk, and horse's flesh, had drawn on one side and tried to
escape unnoticed. Unfortunately Blackbird and Black-deer watched them,
and cut off their retreat; hence they were compelled, whether they liked
it or no, to sit down to the banquet.
Tranquil, Loyal Heart, and their comrades made up their minds to the
worst, and ate, or pretended to eat, with as good an appetite as the
rest of the guests. The repast was prolonged till late in the day; for,
though the Comanches do not drink spirits, and have not to fear
intoxication, still, like all Indians, they are extraordinarily
voracious, and eat till they can swallow no more.
The whites had hard work in declining those provisions, of more or less
suspicious appearance, which were constantly offered to do them honour.
Still, thanks to their thorough knowledge of Indian habits, they managed
to escape the greater part of the infliction and see out the truly
Homeric banquet without much annoyance. At the moment when Loyal Heart
and Tranquil rose to retire, Black-deer approached them.
"Where are my brothers going?" he asked.
"To my calli," Loyal Heart replied.
"Good! Black-deer will join them there soon; he has to speak with his
brothers on serious matters."
"Let my brother remain with his friends, tomorrow will be time enough."
The Chief frowned.
"My brother Loyal Heart must be careful," he said; "I have to consult
with him on matters of the utmost gravity."
The hunter, struck by the Chiefs anxious air, looked at him with alarm.
"What is the matter?" he asked him.
"My brother will know in an hour."
"Very good, Chief; I will await you in my calli."
"Black-deer will come there."
The Chief then withdrew, laying his finger on his lip, and the hunters
went off deep in thought.