What the upshot of Valdez's errand as commissioner to the Tovas tribe
may be told in a few words. That he has been successful, in some way,
can be guessed from his being seen in close fellowship with him who is
now their chief. For, otherwise, he would not be there with them or
only as a prisoner. Instead, he is, as he appears, the accepted friend
of Aguara, however false the friendship. And the tie which has knit
them together is in keeping with the character of one, if not both. All
this brought about without any great difficulty, or only such as was
easily overcome by the Paraguayan plenipotentiary. Having reached the
Tovas town--that where the tribe is now in permanent residence--only a
day or two after Naraguana's death, he found the Indians in the midst of
their lamentations; and, through their hearts rendered gentle by grief,
received friendly reception. This, and the changed _regime_, offered a
fine opportunity for effecting his purpose, of which the astute
commissioner soon availed himself. The result, a promise of renewal of
the old peace treaty; which he has succeeded in obtaining, partly by
fair words, but as much by a profuse expenditure of the coin with which
Francia had furnished him. This agreed to by the elders of the tribe;
since they had to be consulted. But without a word said about their
late chiefs protege--the hunter-naturalist--or aught done affecting him.
For the Paraguayan soon perceived, that the _sagamores_ would be true
to the trust Naraguana had left; in his last coherent words enjoining
them to continue protection to the stranger, and hold him, as his,
unharmed.
So far the elders in council; and the astute commissioner, recognising
the difficulty, not to say danger, of touching on this delicate subject,
said nothing to them about it.
For all, he has not left the matter in abeyance, instead, has spoken of
it to other ears, where he knew he would be listened to with more safety
to himself--the ears of Aguara. For he had not been long in the Tovas
town without making himself acquainted with the character of the new
cacique, as also his inclinings--especially those relating to Francesca
Halberger. And that some private understanding has been established
between him and the young Tovas chief is evident from the conversation
they are now carrying on.
"You can keep the _muchachita_ at your pleasure," says Valdez, having,
to all appearance, settled certain preliminaries. "All my master wants
is, to vindicate the laws of our country, which this man Halberger has
outraged. As you know yourself, Senor Aguara, one of our statutes is
that no foreigner who marries a Paraguayan woman may take her out of the
country without permission of the President--our executive chief. Now
this man is not one of our people, but a stranger--_a gringo_--from far
away over the big waters; while the Senora, his wife, is Paraguayan,
bred and born. Besides, he stole her away in the night, like a thief,
as he is."
Naraguana would not tamely have listened to such discourse. Instead,
the old chief, loyal to his friendship, would have indignantly repelled
the allegations against his friend and protege. As it is, they fall
upon the ear of Naraguana's son without his offering either rebuke or
protest.
Still, he seems in doubt as to what answer he should make, or what
course he ought to pursue in the business between them.
"What would you have me do, Senor Rufino?" he asks in a patois of
Spanish, which many Chaco Indians can speak; himself better than common,
from his long and frequent intercourse with Halberger's family. "What
want you?"
"I don't want you to do anything," rejoins the _vaqueano_. "If you're
so squeamish about giving offence to him you call your father's friend,
you needn't take any part in the matter, or at all compromise yourself.
Only stand aside, and allow the law I've just spoken of to have
fulfilment."
"But how?"
"Let our President send a party of his soldiers to arrest those
runaways, and carry them back whence they came. Now that you've
proposed to renew the treaty with us, and are hereafter to be our
allies--and, I hope, fast friends--it is only just and right you should
surrender up those who are our enemies. If you do, I can say, as his
trusted representative, that El Supremo will heap favours, and bestow
rich presents on the Tovas tribe; above all, on its young cacique--of
whom I've heard him speak in terms of the highest praise."
Aguara, a vain young fellow, eagerly drinks in the fulsome flattery, his
eyes sparkling with delight at the prospect of the gifts thus promised.
For he is as covetous of wealth as he is conceited about his personal
appearance.
"But," he says, thinking of a reservation, "would you want us to
surrender them all? Father, mother--"
"No, not all," rejoins the ruffian, interrupting. "There is one," he
continues, looking askant at the Indian, with the leer of a demon, "one,
I take it, whom the young Tovas chief would wish to retain as an
ornament to his court. Pretty creature the _nina_ was, when I last saw
her; and I have no doubt still is, unless your Chaco sun has made havoc
with her charms. She had a cousin about her own age, by name Cypriano,
who was said to be very fond of her; and rumour had it around Assuncion,
that they were being brought up for one another."
Aguara's brow blackens, and his dark Indian eyes seem to emit sparks of
fire.
"Cypriano shall never have her!" he exclaims in a tone of angry
determination.
"How can you help it, amigo?" interrogates his tempter. "That is,
supposing the two are inclined for one another. As you know, her father
is not only a paleface, but _a gringo_, with prejudices of blood far
beyond us Paraguayans, who are half-Indian ourselves. Ah! and proud of
it too. Being such, he would never consent to give his daughter in
marriage to a red man--make a _squaw_ of her, as he would scornfully
call it. No, not even though it were the grandest cacique in the Chaco.
He would see her dead first."
"Indeed!" exclaims the Indian, with a disdainful toss of the head.
"Indeed, yes," asseverates Valdez. "And whether they remain under your
protection, or be taken back to Paraguay, 'twill be all the same as
regards the senorita. There's but one way I know of to hinder her from
becoming the wife of her cousin Cypriano, and that is--"
"What?" impatiently asks Aguara.
"To separate them. Let father, mother, son, and nephew be taken back to
where they belong; the _nina_ to stay behind."
"But how can that be done?"
"You mean without your showing your hand in it?" asks Valdez, in a
confidential whisper.
"I do. For know, Senor Rufino, that, though I'm now chief of our tribe,
and those we have with us here will do as I bid them--obey me in
anything--still the elders have control, and might make trouble if I did
aught to injure the friend of my late father. I am not free, and dare
not act as you propose."
"_Carramba_! you needn't act at all, as I've already told you. Only
stand aside, and let others do the acting. 'Twill be easy enough. But
give your consent to my bringing a pack of our Paraguayan wolves to this
fold your father has so carefully shepherded, and I'll answer for
sorting out the sheep we want to take, and leaving the lamb you wish
left. Then you and yours can come opportunely up, too late for
protecting the old ram and dam, but in time to rescue the bleating
lambkin, and bear her away to a place of safety. Your own toldo, Senor
Aguara; where, take my word for't, no one will ever come to inquire
after, much less reclaim her. You consent?"
"Speak low!" cautions the wily Indian, casting a glance over his
shoulders as one willing to do a wicked deed, but without desiring it
known. "Don't let them hear us. _You have my consent_."