THE WHITE GAZELLE.
Red Cedar's proposition was too advantageous for the Pirates to hesitate
about accepting it. This was the reason:--
For some years past a man had appeared on the prairies, at the head of
fifty or sixty determined companions, and had waged such a rude war on
the adventurers or pirates, that it had become almost impossible to
carry on their old trade with impunity.
On his private authority, this man had constituted himself the defender
of the caravans that crossed the desert, and protector of the trappers
and hunters, whom they no longer dared plunder, through fear of being
attacked by this unknown redressor of grievances.
This existence was growing insupportable, and an end must be put to it.
Unfortunately the means had hitherto failed the pirates to deal a heavy
blow, and free themselves from the crushing yoke Bloodson bowed them
under. Hence they did not hesitate, as we have seen, to accept Red
Cedar's proposition.
These men had been acquainted with the bandit for several years: he had,
indeed, been their chief for some time; but at that period they were
still civilised brigands, if we may employ that expression when speaking
of such fellows, prowling along the frontiers of the American Union,
assaulting isolated farms, and plundering and killing the defenceless
inhabitants.
This band, which was at that time composed of about fifty, was gradually
driven back on the desert, where Bloodson, who hunted them like wild
beasts, had decimated them so thoroughly in many a fight, that the band,
now reduced to only ten persons, was literally at bay, and compelled to
live on the produce of the chase, or the rare occasions for plunder
offered by isolated travellers, whom their unlucky star brought into the
vicinity of the pirates' lair.
As they were perfectly concealed by the Indian garb they wore, the few
travellers who escaped them fancied they had been plundered by redskins.
This disguise caused their security, and allowed them to go at times and
sell the produce of their plunder in the seaport towns.
We have said that the bandit band was composed of ten men, but we were
incorrect; for one of them was a woman.
There was a strange anomaly in this creature, scarce twenty years of
age, with delicate features, a tall and lithe form, living among these
ruffians whom she ruled over with all the force of a vast mind,
indomitable courage, and an iron will. The brigands had a superstitious
adoration for her which they could not exactly account for; obeying her
slightest caprices without a murmur, and ready to let themselves be
killed at the least sign from her rosy fingers.
She was, as it were, their palladium. The girl was perfectly well aware
of the uncontrolled power she exercised over her terrible guardians, and
abused it constantly, while they never attempted resistance. The Indians
themselves, seduced by the grace, vivacity, and sympathetic charms of
the young creature, had christened her the White Gazelle; a name
harmonising so well with her character, that she was known by no other.
She wore a fanciful costume of extraordinary wildness and eccentricity,
which was admirably suited to the gentle, though decided, and slightly
dreamy expression of her face. It was composed of loose Turkish
trousers, made of Indian cashmere, fastened at the knees with diamond
garters; while boots of stamped deer hide protected her leg, and
imprisoned her little foot. To her heels were fastened heavy gold
Mexican spurs; double-barrelled pistols and a dagger were passed through
her China crape girdle, which confined her delicate waist. A jacket of
violet velvet, buttoned over the bosom with a profusion of diamonds,
displayed her exquisite bust. A brilliant-hued Navajo zarapé, fastened
at the neck with a clasp of rubies, served as her cloak, and a Panama
hat of extreme fineness (_doble paja_), decorated with an eagle plume,
covered her head, while allowing tresses of jet black hair to fall in
disorder on her neck, and which, had they not been bound by a ribbon,
would have trailed on the ground.
This girl was asleep when Red Cedar entered the cavern, and the pirates
were accustomed to do nothing without her assent.
"Red Cedar is a man in whom we can place entire confidence," Pedro
Sandoval said, as he summed up the affair, "but we cannot give him
answer till we have consulted the _niña_."
"That is true," a second confirmed him--"hence, as any discussion will
be useless, I think the best thing we can do, is to follow Red Cedar's
example, and go to rest."
"Powerfully reasoned," said one of the bandits, called Orson; a little
man with ignoble features, grey eyes, and a mouth extending from ear to
ear, while laughing so as to display two rows of white teeth, wide and
sharp as those of a wild beast; "so shall I say good night."
The other pirates did the same, and in a few minutes the deepest silence
prevailed in the grotto, whose inhabitants, secure in the strength of
their position, slept peacefully.
At daybreak Red Cedar opened his eyes, and rose from the hard bed on
which he had rested, in order to stretch his limbs, and restore the
circulation of the blood.
"Up already!" Sandoval said, as he emerged, cigarette in mouth, from one
of the sleeping cells.
"My bed was not so attractive as to keep me longer," Red Cedar answered
with a smile.
"Bah!" the other said, "'Tis the fortune of war; therefore I do not
complain about it:" the squatter continued, drawing his comrade to the
entrance of the grotto. "And now, gossip, answer me, if you please; what
do you think of my proposal? You have had time for reflection, I
suppose?"
"_Cascaras!_--it did not require much reflection to see that it was a
good bargain."
"You accept," Red Cedar said, with a movement of joy.
"If I were to be master, I should not make the slightest difficulty,
but--"
"Hang it, there is a but."
"You know very well there always is one."
"That is true; and what is the but?"
"Oh, less than nothing; we must merely submit the question to the Niña."
"That is true: I did not think of that."
"You see now."
"_Cristo!_ She will accept."
"I am certain of it. Still, we must lay it before her."
"Of course. Stay, comrade, I prefer you should undertake it: while you
are doing it, I will go and kill some game for breakfast. Does that suit
you?"
"Very well."
"Good-bye for the present, then."
Red Cedar threw his rifle over his shoulder and left the grotto,
whistling to his dog.
Sandoval, when left alone, prepared to discharge his commission, while
saying to himself in an aside--
"That devil of a Red Cedar is always the same, as timid as he used to
be: that results from not having been used to the society of ladies.
"Good morning, Sandoval," a gentle and melodious voice breathed in his
ear.
And the White Gazelle tapped the shoulder of the old bandit, while
smiling kindly on him. The girl was really a ravishing creature. She
wore the costume we just now described; but she held in her hand a
rifle, damascened with silver. Sandoval gazed on her for a moment with
profound admiration, and then answered in a trembling voice--
"Good morning, child; did you have a good night?"
"I could not have had a better; I feel in glorious spirits this
morning."
"All the better, dear girl, all the better; for I have to present to you
an old comrade, who ardently desires to see you again."
"I know whom you are alluding to, father," the girl replied. "I was not
asleep last night when he arrived, and even supposing I had been so the
noise you made would have awakened me."
"You heard our conversation, then?"
"From one end to the other."
"And what is your advice?"
"Before answering, tell me who are the people we are to attack."
"Do you not know?"
"No; since I ask you."
"Hang it; they are Americans, I believe."
"But what sort of Americans? Are they Gringos or Gachupinos?"
"I did not inquire into such details; to me all Americans are alike; and
provided they are attacked, I ask for nothing more."
"That is possible, old father," the girl answered, with a little pout;
"but I make a grand difference between them."
"I do not exactly see the use of it."
"I am free to think as I please, I suppose," she interrupted him, as she
stamped her foot impatiently.
"Yes, my child, yes--do not be angry, I entreat you."
"Very good; but pay attention to what I am going to tell you. Red Cedar
is a man on whom I do not put the slightest trust. He is ever accustomed
to pursue a gloomy object, which escapes his partners; they only serve
him as a cat's paw in all his undertakings; and he abandons them
unblushingly so soon as they are of no further use to him. The affair
Red Cedar proposes to you is magnificent at the first glance; but, on
reflecting, far from offering us profits, it may bring a multitude of
annoyances on us, and bring us into a wasp's nest, whence we cannot
emerge."
"Then, your opinion is to decline?"
"I do not say that; but I wish to know what you intend doing, and what
our chances of success are?"
During this conversation, the other bandits had left their cells and
ranged themselves round the speakers, whose discussion they followed
with the deepest interest.
"On my word, my dear child, I do not know what answer to make you. Last
evening Red Cedar spoke to me of the affair, and it appeared to us
grand; but if it does not please you we will give it up. We will not
mention it again; and that's all about it."
"That is how you always are, Sandoval; it is impossible to discuss any
point with you. At the slightest objection offered you flare up, and
will not listen to the reasons which may be given to you."
"I am not so, my child; I only state facts. However, here is Red Cedar;
have it out with him."
"That will not take long," the girl answered; and turning to the
squatter, who entered the grotto, bearing on his shoulders a magnificent
elk he had shot, and which he threw on the ground, she said--
"Answer me a single question, Red Cedar."
"Twenty, if it be agreeable to you, charming Gazelle," the bandit said,
with a constrained smile, which rendered him hideous.
"No, one will be sufficient. Who are the people you are engaged with?"
"A Mexican family."
"I want to know their name."
"I will tell it you. It is the Zarate family, one of the most
influential in New Mexico."
At this answer a vivid flush ran over the girl's face, and she displayed
marks of profound emotion.
"I also propose," the bandit continued, whose notice this flush had not
escaped, "to finish with that demon, Bloodson, on whom we have so many
insults to avenge."
"Good!" she said with increasing emotion.
The astounded brigands gazed anxiously on the girl. At length, by a
violent effort, the Gazelle succeeded in reassuming an air of coolness;
and, addressing the Pirates, said to them, in a voice whose accent
revealed a great internal agitation--
"That entirely changes the question. Bloodson is our most cruel enemy.
If I had known that at first, I should not have opposed the enterprise
as I did."
"Then--?" Sandoval ventured to interrupt. "I consider the idea excellent;
and the sooner we put it in execution, the better."
"Very good," Red Cedar exclaimed. "I felt sure that the niña would
support me."
The Gazelle smiled on him.
"Whoever could understand women?" Sandoval muttered in his moustache.
"Now," the young girl added, with extraordinary animation, "let us
hasten to make our preparations for departure, as we have not an instant
to lose."
"Caspita! I am glad we are going to do something at last," said Orson,
as he prepared to cut up the elk brought in by Red Cedar: "we were
beginning to moulder in this damp hole."
"Leonard," Sandoval said, "look after the horses; fetch them from the
corral, and bring them to the subterraneous passage."
"Hang it all," said Red Cedar; "talking about horses, I haven't one."
"That is true," Sandoval replied; "you arrived on foot yesterday; but I
fancied you had left your horse in the chaparral."
"No, it was killed in an ambuscade, where I all but left my hide. Since
then, my dog has carried the saddle."
"We have more horses than we want, so Leonard shall bring one to you."
"Thanks, I will make it up to you."
Leonard and another bandit collected the harness and went off. When the
meal was finished, which did not take long, as the Pirates were anxious
to start, the separations forming the rooms were taken down, and two or
three Pirates, arming themselves with powerful levers, moved an enormous
rock, under which was the hole, serving as cache to the band, when
obliged to leave its den temporarily. In this hole they placed any
objects of value which the grotto contained, and the rock was then
returned to its place.
This duty accomplished, Sandoval shouted as he proceeded to the mouth of
the grotto--
"Some men to help."
At a sign from Sandoval, half a dozen men seized the end of a tree
serving as a bridge, lifted it, balanced it for a moment in the air, and
hurled it into the precipice, down which it rolled, with a sound
resembling the discharge of a park of artillery. The exterior of the
grotto was then covered with shrubs, in order to conceal it as far as
possible.
"Ouf," Sandoval said, "at present all is in order; we will start when
you please."
"At once!" the girl said, who seemed a prey to a great impatience, and
who during all these lengthened preparations had not ceased to, scold
the Pirates for their delay.
The band entered the passage without further delay; and, after a march
of about half an hour, entered a ravine, where the horses, under the
guard of a Pirate, were nibbling the pea vines and young tree shoots.
All mounted. The White Gazelle allowed her comrades to pass, and managed
to remain a little in the rear. Then, approaching Red Cedar, she looked
at him in a peculiar way, and laid her dainty hand on his shoulder.
"Tell me, scalp hunter," she muttered, in a low and concentrated voice,
"it is really Don Miguel de Zarate, the father of Don Pablo, whom you
wish to crush?"
"Yes, señorita," the squatter answered, feigning astonishment at this
question. "Why do you ask me that?"
"Nothing," she said, with a shrug of her shoulders; "merely an idea."
And, spurring her horse, which bounded forward with a snort of pain, she
rejoined the band, which started at a long trot.
"Why does she take such interest in Don Pablo?" Red Cedar asked himself,
so soon as he was alone. "I must know that! Perhaps it may help me
to--"
A sinister smile curled the corners of his thin lips, and he added, as
he watched the girl gallop on--
"You fancy your secret well kept. Poor fool! I shall soon know it."