THE APACHES.
The little band galloped silently through one of those primitive
landscapes which owe nothing to art, and whose imposing and grand aspect
makes us understand the infinite power of the Creator, and plunges the
soul into a gentle reverie. It was one of those fresh, but lovely autumn
mornings, on which travelling is so pleasant. The sun, gently rising in
the horizon, spread its vivifying heat over nature, which seemed smiling
on it. When you look around you in the valleys, all seemed spotted with
white and blackish gray. The hills bore on their crests enormous
mushrooms of granite, which affected the quaintest shapes. The soil of
these hills was grayish white, and was only covered with a few faded
plants already in seed.
In the plain the vegetation was yellow; here and there in the distance a
few male buffaloes were scattered over the prairie like black dots. The
flying locusts, some with brown wings, but the majority of a light
yellow colour, were so numerous, that they literally covered the earth at
certain spots.
At a slight distance off rose the lofty Bears-hand mountain, whose crest
was already covered by a slight layer of snow. The crows formed vast
circles in the air, and the buffaloes, elks, asshatas, and bighorns ran
and bounded in every direction, bellowing and lowing.
The pirates, insensible to the charms of the scenery, and having no
other moving principle than greed, galloped in the direction of the
village of the Buffalo tribe, of which Stanapat (the handful of blood)
was the Sachem, gradually approaching the banks of the Gila, which was
still invisible, but whose course could now soon be traced, owing to the
mass of vapour that rose from its bosom, and floated majestically over
it, incessantly drawn up by the sunbeams.
Toward midday the band stopped to let the horses breathe, but, owing to
the impatience of Red Cedar, and specially of the White Gazelle, soon
started again. After descending a very steep hill, and marching for some
distance in a deep ravine, that formed a species of cañon, the band at
length debouched on the banks of the Gila.
A strange spectacle was the result: on both sides the stream a number of
Indians apparently encamped at the spot, although their village stood a
little distance off at the top of a hill, in accordance with the fashion
of the Pueblos, to convert their habitations into little fortresses,
were running and seeking in every direction, shrieking, gesticulating,
and making the most fearful disturbances.
So soon as they perceived strangers advancing in a straight line toward
them, and not attempting to conceal themselves, but marching in perfect
order, they uttered frenzied yells, and rushed to meet them, brandishing
their weapons, and making ready for a fight.
"Confound it!" said Sandoval, "the Indians do not seem in a good temper.
Perhaps we do wrong in accosting them at this moment: from their present
appearance they may play us a trick, so we will keep on our guard."
"Bah! Let me act. I take everything on myself," Red Cedar answered, with
assurance.
"I ask for nothing better, my friend," Sandoval remarked; "do exactly
what you please; deuce take me if I try to interfere. _Caray_, I know
those demons too well to get into trouble with them rashly."
"Very good! That is agreed; do not trouble yourself any further."
At a sign from Red Cedar the Pirates stopped, waiting impatiently what
was going to happen, and resolved, at any rate, with that brutal egotism
characteristic of scamps of that sort, to remain unmoved spectators.
The squatter, not displaying the slightest trepidation, threw back his
rifle on its sling, and taking off his buffalo robe which he waved
before him, advanced towards the Apaches.
The latter, seeing the strangers halt with their hands on their guns,
and this man advancing alone as ambassador, hesitated for a moment.
They formed a group, and consulted; after a hurried deliberation, two
men moved forward, and also waving their buffalo robes, stood about ten
paces in front of the hunter.
"What does my brother want of the warriors of my nation?" one of the
Indians said, in a haughty voice; "Does he not know that the hatchet has
been dug up between the palefaces and redskins, or has he brought us his
scalp, to save us the trouble of going to fetch it?"
"Is my brother a chief?" the Pirate answered, displaying no emotion.
"I am a chief," the Indian replied--"my brothers call me Black Cat."
"Very good," Red Cedar continued. "I will therefore answer my brother
that I have known for a long time that the hatchet has been dug up for a
long time between the 'Great hearts of the East' and the Apaches. As for
my scalp, I am weak enough to set an enormous value on it, gray as it
is, and I have no intention of letting it be raised."
"In that case my brother acted very imprudently in coming to deliver
himself up."
"The future will prove the truth of that. Will my brother hear the
propositions I am commissioned to make him?"
"My brother can speak, but he must be brief, for my sons are impatient."
"What I have to say only concerns Black Cat."
"My ears are open."
"I have come to offer my brother the help of my comrades and my
own--that is to say, the eleven best rifles in the prairie. By the
council fire, I will explain to the chiefs what we can do to deliver
them from their implacable enemy, Bloodson."
"Bloodson is a cowardly dog," the chief answered; "the Indian women
despise him. My brother has spoken well, but the whites have a forked
tongue: what proof will my brother give me of his sincerity?"
"This," the Pirate intrepidly answered, as he approached near enough to
touch the Indian, "I am Red Cedar, the scalp hunter."
"Wah!" the chief said, his eyes flashing.
The squatter continued, without displaying any emotion--
"I have to avenge myself on Bloodson--to succeed in it I have come to
you, who, till this day, have been my enemies, and on whom I have
inflicted so many injuries, and I place myself in your hands, with my
comrades, frankly and unreservedly, bringing you as proof of my
sincerity a skin full of firewater, three plugs of tobacco, and two
female buffalo-robes, white as the snows of the Bears-hand. My brother
will decide--I await his answer."
The Indians, who display extraordinary temerity, are good judges of
courage. A bold action always pleases them, even from an enemy; on the
other hand, a present of firewater makes them forget the deepest
insults.
In the meanwhile Black Cat consulted for some minutes with the chief who
accompanied him. After a very long discussion, cupidity doubtless gained
the victory in the Apache's mind over the desire for vengeance, as his
countenance brightened up, and he held out his hand to the squatter,
saying--
"The chiefs of my tribe will smoke the calumet with my brother and his
companions."
Then, taking off his cap of antelope hide, adorned with feathers, he
placed it himself on Red Cedar's head, adding--"My brother is now
sacred; he and his companions can follow me without fear--no insult will
be offered them."
The Pirates had anxiously watched the phases of this conversation.
Though too far off to overhear it, they followed all the gestures of the
speakers. When Black Cat placed his cap on their comrade's head, they
immediately advanced, without waiting for him to give them the signal.
They knew that from this moment they had nothing to fear; but, on the
contrary, they would be treated with the greatest respect and utmost
consideration by all the members of the tribe.
A strange fact, worthy of remark, is the way in which the American races
understand and practice hospitality. The most ferocious tribes, and
those most addicted to pillage, respect in the highest degree the
stranger who takes a seat at their fire. This man may have killed one of
the members of the family which shelters him; he may have the most
precious articles about him, and be alone, but no one will dare to
insult him; everyone will strive to do him all sorts of services, and
supply him with everything that may be useful to him, reserving the
right of mercilessly killing him a week later, if they meet him on the
prairie.
The Pirates were, consequently, received with open arms by the Apaches;
a tent was put up expressly for them, and they were supplied with
everything they could want.
The first care of Red Cedar was to carry out his bargain with Black Cat,
and pay him what he had promised. The chief was delighted; his little
eyes sparkled like carbuncles, he leaped, gesticulated, and was half out
of his mind. The squatter had paid him a royal ransom, which he was far
from expecting ever to receive. Hence he did not leave his new friend
again, whom he overwhelmed with attentions.
When the Pirates had rested and had their food, Red Cedar turned to
Black Cat.
"When the council assembles," he said, "I will point out to the chief
the spot where Bloodson now is."
"My brother knows it?"
"I suspect it."
"In that case I will warn the _hachesto_, that he may assemble the
chiefs round the council fire."
"Why not light the fire here, instead of returning to the village, which
will occasion a great loss of time?"
"My brother is right," the chief answered.
He rose, and immediately quitted the tent. A few moments after, the
hachesto of the hill mounted a species of hillock, and shaking his
_chichikoui_ with all his strength, invited the chiefs of the nation to
assemble in council. The same announcement was made in the camp on the
other side of the Gila.
An hour later, the principal Apache chiefs were crouching round the
council fire, lit in the prairie at a short distance from the tent of
the white men.
At the moment when Black Cat rose and was preparing to utter a few
words, probably with the intention of explaining the reason of the
meeting, a great noise was heard, and a mounted Indian galloped up,
shouting--
"The Buffaloes! Stanapat, Stanapat!"
Another Indian arriving at equal speed from the opposite direction,
shouted at the same time:
"The Siksekaï! The Siksekaï!"
"Here are our allies," Black Cat then said; "my sons will prepare to
receive them."
The council was broken up. The warriors hurriedly assembled, formed in
two large bands, flanked on the wings by horsemen, and ranged themselves
for battle in the two directions indicated by the scouts.
The war detachment of the Buffaloes appeared descending a hill, and
advancing in good order. It was composed of about five hundred warriors,
perfectly armed and painted for war, and looking most martial.
A detachment of the Siksekaï of about equal strength appeared
immediately after, marching in good order.
So soon as the four Indian bands saw each other, they uttered their war
cry, discharged their muskets and brandished their lances, while the
horsemen, starting at full speed, executed the most singular evolutions,
rushing on each other as if charging, turning and curvetting round the
detachments which marched on at quick step, singing, shouting, firing
their guns, rattling their chichikouis, blowing their shells, and
incessantly sounding their war whistles.
There was something really imposing in the aspect of these savage
warriors, with their stern faces, clothed in fantastic costumes, and
covered with feathers and hair, which the wind blew in every direction.
When the four parties arrived at a short distance from each other, they
stopped and the noise ceased. Then the principal chiefs, holding in
their hand the totem of their tribe, left the ranks, followed by the
pipe-bearer, carrying a great sacred calumet; they walked a few paces
toward each other, and planted the totem on their right.
The pipe-bearers filled the calumets, lighted them, bowed to the four
cardinal points, and handed them in turn to the chief, while holding the
bowls in their hands, and being careful that no one was passed over.
This preliminary ceremony accomplished, the principal sorcerer of the
Buffaloes placed himself between the totems, and turned to the sun.
"Home of light!" he said, "thou who vivifiest everything in nature,
servant and visible representative of the Great Invisible Spirit who
governs the world which he has created, thy children long separated are
assembling today to defend their villages and hunting grounds, unjustly
and incessantly attacked by men without faith or country, whom Niang,
the Spirit of Evil, has let loose upon them. Smile on their efforts, O
Sun, and grant them the scalps of their enemies! Grant that they be
victorious, and accept this offering made thee by thy most fervent
adorer, to render thee favourable to thy sons, and make thy Apache
children invincible!"
While uttering these words, he seized a light stone axe hanging at his
girdle, and placing his left arm on a rock, laid open his wrist with one
blow.
The blood poured profusely from this horrible wound; but the sorcerer,
impassive and apparently insensible to pain, drew himself up with an eye
flashing with enthusiasm and religious fanaticism, and shaking his arm
in every direction, sprinkled the chiefs with his blood, while shouting
in a loud voice:
"Sun, Sun, grant us our enemies, as I have given thee my hand!"
All the Indians repeated the same prayer.
The yells recommenced, and in an instant the redskins, seized with a
spirit of frenzy, rushed upon each other, brandishing their weapons to
the sound of the chichikouis and war whistles, and imitating all the
evolutions of a real battle.
The sorcerer, still stoical, wrapped up his mutilated arm in grass, and
retired with a slow and measured step, saluted on his passage by the
Indians whom his action had electrified. When the tumult was slightly
calmed, the chiefs assembled for the second time round the council fire,
whose circle had been enlarged to make room for the allies.
The newly arrived warriors were mingled with those of Black Cat, and the
greatest cordiality prevailed among those ferocious men, whose number
amounted at this moment to nearly two thousand, and who only dreamed of
blood, murder, and pillage.
"Confederate sachems of the powerful nation of the Apaches," Stanapat
said, "you know the cause which once again draws us up arms in hand
against the perfidious white men. It is, therefore, useless to enter
into details you know; still, I believe, that since the hatchet has been
dug up, we ought to use it till it is completely blunted. The palefaces
daily invade our territory more and more; they respect none of our laws;
they kill us like wild beasts. Let us forget our personal habits for an
instant, to combine against the common foe, that Bloodson, whom the
genius of evil has created for our ruin. If we can manage to remain
united, we shall exterminate him, for we shall be the stronger! When we
have conquered, we will share the spoils of our enemy. I have spoken."
Stanapat sat down again, and Black Cat rose in his turn. "We are
unanimous enough to commence the war with advantage; within a few days
other auxiliaries will have found us. Why wait longer? Ten white hunters
of the prairies, our allies, offer to surrender to us the den of the
long knives of the East, in which they tell me they have friends. What
do we wait for? Let us utter our war cry and start at once; any delay
may be deadly for us, by giving our enemies time to prepare a desperate
resistance, against which all our efforts will be broken. Let my
brothers reflect. I have spoken."
"My brother has spoken well," Stanapat answered; "we must fall like
lightning on our enemy, who will be terrified by an unexpected attack;
but we should not be imprudent. Where are the white hunters?"
"Here," Black Cat replied.
"I ask," the sachem continued, "that they be heard by the council."
The other chiefs bowed their heads in assent, and Black Cat rose and
went to the Pirates, who were impatiently awaiting the result of the
deliberation of the sachems.