THE MEXICAN MOON.
After his visit to the hunters the Black Bear set out, at the head of
his warriors, to proceed to a neighbouring island, known by the name of
Choke-Heckel, which was one of the advanced Apache posts on the Mexican
frontier. He reached the isle at daybreak. At this spot the Gila attains
its greatest width: each of the arms formed by the island is nearly two
miles wide. The island which rises in the middle of the water, like a
basket of flowers, is about two miles long by half a mile wide, and is
one immense bouquet, exhaling the sweetest perfumes, and the melodious
songs of the birds which congregate in incalculable numbers on all the
branches of the trees by which it is covered.
Illumined on this day by the splendid beams of a flashing sun, the place
had a strange and unusual appearance which had a powerful effect on the
imagination. As far as the eye could reach over the island and the two
banks of the Gila could be seen tents of buffalo hide, or huts of
branches leaned against each other, and whose strange colours wearied
the sight. Numerous canoes made of horse-skins sewed together, and
mostly round, or else hollowed out of trunks of trees, traversed the
river in every direction. The warriors dismounted and set their horses
free, which immediately proceeded to join a number of others.
The chief went towards the huts before which feather flags and the
scalps of renowned warriors fluttered in the breeze, passing through the
women who were preparing the morning meal. But the Black Bear had been
recognised immediately on his arrival, and all got out of his way with
respectful bows. A thing no European could credit is the respect all
Indians, without exception, pay to their chiefs. Among those who have
kept up the manners of their forefathers, and, disdaining European
civilisation, have continued to wander about the prairies as free men,
this respect is changed into fanaticism, almost into adoration.
The gold fillet adorned with two buffalo horns, placed on the Black
Bear's brow, caused him to be recognised by all, and the liveliest joy
was evinced on his passage. He at length reached the river's bank. On
arriving there he made a sign to a man fishing a short distance off in a
canoe; the latter hastened up, and the chief passed over to the island.
A hut of branches had been prepared for him. It is probable that
invisible sentinels were watching for his arrival, for the moment he set
foot on land, a chief called the Little Panther presented himself before
him.
"The great chief is welcome among his brothers," he said, bowing
courteously before the Black Bear. "Has my father had a good journey?"
"I have had a good journey, I thank my brother."
"If my father consents I will lead him to _jacal_ built to receive
him."
"Let us go," the chief said.
The Little Panther bowed a second time, and guided the chief along a
path formed through the shrubs. They soon arrived at a jacal, which, in
the mind of the Indians, offered the ideal of what was comfortable,
through its size, the brilliancy of the colours with which it was
painted, and its cleanliness.
"My father is at home," the Little Panther said, respectfully raising
the _fresada_ (blanket) which closed the jacal, and falling back to let
the Black Bear pass. The latter entered.
"My brother will follow me," he said.
The Little Panther walked in behind him, and let the curtain fall. This
abode did not in any way differ from that of the other Indians. A fire
burned in the centre. The Black Bear made a sign to the other chief to
sit down on a buffalo skull. He then chose one for himself, and sat down
near the fire. After a moment's silence, employed by the two chiefs in
smoking gravely, the Black Bear addressed the Little Panther:--
"Are the chiefs of all the tribes of our nation collected on the island
as I ordered?"
"They are."
"When will they come to my jacal?"
"That depends on my father. They await his good pleasure."
The Black Bear began smoking again silently. A long period was thus
spent.
"Nothing new has happened during my absence?" the Black Bear asked,
shaking the ash out of his calumet on his thumb.
"Three chiefs of the prairie Comanches have arrived, sent by their
nation to treat with the Apaches."
"Wah!" the chief said. "Are they renowned warriors?"
"They have many wolves' tails on their moccasins. They must be valiant."
The Black Bear nodded his head in affirmation.
"One of them, it is said, is the Jester," the Little Panther continued.
"Is my brother certain of what he says?" the chief asked sharply.
"The Comanche warriors refused to give their names when they learned the
absence of my father. They answered it was well, and that they would
await his return."
"Good! They are chiefs. Where are they?"
"They have lighted a fire, round which they are camping."
"Time is precious. My brother will warn the Apache chiefs that I await
them at the council fire."
The Little Panther rose without replying, and quitted the jacal.
For about an hour the Indian chief remained alone buried in thought: at
the end of that time the sound of several approaching men could be heard
outside. The curtain was raised by the Little Panther, who walked in.
"Well?" the Black Bear asked.
"The chiefs are waiting."
"Let them come in."
The chiefs made their appearance. They were ten in number; each had put
on his best ornaments, and all wore their war paint. They entered
silently, and ranged themselves silently round the fire, after silently
saluting the great chief, and kissing the hem of his robe.
As soon as all the chiefs had assembled in the interior of the _toldo_,
a troop of Apache warriors drew up outside, to keep off the curious, and
insure the secrecy of the deliberations. The Black Bear, in spite of his
self-mastery, could not refrain from a movement of joy at the sight of
all these men, who were entirely devoted to him, and by whose help he
felt certain of accomplishing his projects.
"My brothers are welcome," he said, inviting them by a sign to take
seats on the buffalo skulls ranged round the fire, "I was awaiting them
impatiently."
The chiefs bowed and sat down. Then the pipe bearer entered and
presented the calumet to each warrior, who drew two or three puffs of
tobacco. When this ceremony was over, and the pipe bearer had departed,
the deliberations began.
"Before all," said the Black Bear, "I must give you an account of my
mission. The Black Bear has completely fulfilled it; he has entered the
hut of the white men; he has thoroughly examined it; he knows the number
of palefaces that defend it; and when the hour arrives for him to lead
his warriors there, the Black Bear will know how to find the road
again."
The chiefs bowed with satisfaction.
"This great cabin of the whites," the Black Bear continued, "is the only
serious obstacle we shall find on our road in the new expedition we are
undertaking."
"The Yoris are dogs without courage. The Apaches will give them
petticoats, and make them prepare their game," the Little Panther said
with a grin.
The Black Bear shook his head.
"The palefaces of the great cabin of Guetzalli are not Yoris," he said.
"A chief has seen them---they are men. Nearly all of them have blue eyes
and hair the colour of ripe maize; they seem very brave--my brothers
must be prudent."
"Does not my father know who these men are?" a chief inquired.
"The Black Bear does not know. He was told down there near the great
Salt Lake, that they inhabited a country very far from here, toward the
rising sun: that is all."
"These men have no trees, nor fruit, nor buffaloes in their own country,
that they come to steal ours."
"The palefaces are insatiable," the Black Bear replied. "They forget
that the Great Spirit has only given them, like other men, one mouth and
two hands. All they see they covet. The Wacondah, who loves his red
sons, let them be born in a rich country, and has covered them with his
gifts. The palefaces are jealous, and seek continually to rob and
dispossess them; but the Apaches are brave warriors: they can defend
their hunting grounds, and prevent them being trampled by these
vagabonds, who have come from the other side of the Great Salt Lake on
the floating cabins of the _Great Medicine._"
The chiefs warmly applauded this harangue, which expressed so well the
sentiments that affected them, and the animosity with which they were
animated against the white race--that conquering and invading race,
which constantly drives them further into the desert, not even leaving
them the requisite space to breathe and live quietly after their
fashion.
"The great nation of the Comanches of the Lakes, that which is called
the Queen of the Prairies, has deputed to our nation three renowned
warriors. I know not the object of this embassy, which, however, must be
peaceful. Does it please you, chiefs of my nation, to receive them, and
admit them to smoke the calumet of peace round our council fire."
"My father is a very wise warrior," the Little Panther replied: "he can,
when he likes, divine the most hidden thoughts in the heart of his
enemies. What he does will be well done. The chiefs of his nation will
be always happy to regulate their conduct by the counsels he may deign
to give them."
The Black Bear threw a glance round the assembly, as if to assure
himself that the Little Panther had truly expressed the general will.
The members of the council silently bowed their heads in acquiescence.
The chief smiled proudly on seeing himself so appreciated by his
companions, and addressing the Little Panther, said,--
"Let my brothers, the Comanche chiefs, be introduced."
These words were pronounced with a majesty equal to that of a European
king sitting in parliament.
The Little Panther went out to execute the order he had received. During
his absence, which was rather long, not a word was exchanged between the
chiefs seated on buffalo skulls, with their elbows on their knees, and
their chins on the palm of their hand; they remained motionless and
silent, apparently plunged into deep thought.
The Little Panther at length returned, preceding the Comanche warriors.
On their entry the Apache chiefs rose and saluted them ceremoniously.
The Comanches returned the salutation with no less courtesy, but without
any other response, and waited till they were addressed.
The Comanche warriors were young and finely built; they had a martial
bearing, a free glance, and thoughtful brow. Dressed in their national
costume, with heads proudly raised, and hands stemmed in their sides,
they had something noble and loyal about them which aroused sympathy.
One of them specially, the youngest of the three--he was hardly
five-and-twenty--must be a superior man, to judge by appearances: the
stern lines of his countenance, the brilliancy of his glance, the
elegance and majesty of his bearing, caused him to be recognised at the
first glance as a chosen man.
His name was the Jester; and, as might be guessed from the tuft of
condor feathers passed through his warlock, he was one of the principal
chiefs of the nation.
The Apache chiefs bent on the new arrivals, while not appearing to
notice them, that profoundly inquisitive glance possessed to so eminent
a degree by the Indians. The Comanches, though they might guess the
power of the glances fixed on them, did not make a sign, nor allow a
movement to escape them, indicating that they knew themselves to be the
object of attention to all present.
Machiavel, author of the "Prince" though he was, compared with the red
men, was only a child in matters of policy. These poor savages, as
they are called by those who do not know them, are the cleverest and
most cunning diplomatists in existence.
After an instant's delay the Black Bear took a step toward the Comanche
chiefs, bowed to them, and holding out his right hand palm upwards,
said,--
"I am happy to receive beneath my cabin, in the midst of my people, my
brothers, the Comanches of the Lakes. They will take their place at the
council fire, and smoke with their brothers the calumet of peace."
"Be it so," the Jester replied in a stern voice. "Are we not all children
of Wacondah?"
And, without adding another word, he took his seat with the other chiefs
at the council fire, side by side with the Apaches. The conversation was
broken off again, for everyone was smoking. At length, when the calumet
bowls contained only ashes, the Black Bear turned with a courteous smile
to the Jester.
"My brothers, the Comanches of the Lakes, are doubtlessly hunting the
buffalo not far from here, and then the thought occurred to them to
visit their Apache brothers. I thank them for it."
The Jester bowed.
"The Comanches of the Lakes are far away chasing the antelopes on the
Del Nato. The Jester, and a few devoted warriors of his tribe who
accompany him, are alone encamped on the hunting grounds."
"The Jester is a chief renowned on the prairie," the Apache graciously
remarked. "The Black Bear is happy to have seen him. So great a warrior
as my brother does not act thus without some plausible motive."
"The Black Bear has guessed it. The Jester has come to renew with his
Apache brothers the narrow bonds of a loyal friendship. Why, instead of
disputing a territory to which we have equal claims, should we not
divide it between us? Should the red men destroy each other? Would it
not be better to bury the war hatchet by the council fire at such a
depth that, when an Apache met a Comanche, he would only see in him a
well-beloved brother? The palefaces, who each moon encroach on our
possessions more and more, carry on a furious war with us; then why
should we help them by our intestine dissensions?"
The Black Bear rose, and, stretching forth his arm with authority,
said,--
"My brother, the Jester, is right. Only one sentiment should henceforth
guide us--patriotism! Let us lay aside all our paltry enmities, to think
but of one thing--liberty! The palefaces are perfectly ignorant of
our plans. During the few days I passed at Guaymas I was able to
convince myself of that: thus our sudden invasion will be to them a
thunderbolt, which will ice them with terror. They will be more than
half conquered by our approach."
There was a solemn silence. The Jester then turned a calm and proud
glance round the meeting, and exclaimed,--
"The Mexican moon will begin in twenty-four hours. Redskin warriors!
Shall we allow it to pass away without attempting one of those daring
strokes which we usually perform at this period of the year? There is
one establishment above all, over which we should rush like a whirlwind:
that establishment founded by palefaces, other than the Yoris, is for us
a permanent menace. I will not deal craftily with you. Apache chiefs! I
come to offer you frankly, if you will attack Guetzalli, the support of
four hundred Comanche warriors, at whose head I will place myself."
At this proposition a quiver of pleasure ran through the meeting.
"I joyfully accept my brother's proposal," the Black Bear said. "I have,
nearly the same number of warriors: our two bands will be strong enough,
I hope, to utterly destroy the palefaces. Tomorrow, at the rising of the
moon, we will set out."
The chiefs retired, and the Black Bear and the Jester were left alone.
These two chiefs enjoyed an equal reputation, and both were adored by
their countrymen, hence they examined each other curiously, for up to
that moment they had always been enemies, and never had the chance of
meeting save with weapons in their hands.
"I thank my brother for his cordial offer," the Black Bear was the first
to say. "Under the present circumstances his help will be very
advantageous for us; but once the victory is decided, the spoil will be
equally shared between the two nations."
The Jester bowed.
"What plan has my brother formed?" he asked.
"A very simple one. The Comanches are terrible horsemen: with my brother
at their head, they must be invincible. So soon as the moon shines in
the heavens the Jester will set out with his warriors, and proceed
toward Guetzalli, being careful to fire the prairie in front of his
detachment, in order to raise a curtain of smoke which will conceal his
movements and prevent his warriors being counted. If, as is not
probable, the palefaces have placed vedettes before their great lodge to
announce the arrival of the expedition, my brother will seize and kill
them at once, to prevent them giving any alarm. In this expedition, as
in all those that have preceded it, everything belonging to the
palefaces--lodges, jacals, houses--will be burnt; the beasts carried off
and sent to the rear. On arriving in front of Guetzalli my brother will
hide himself as well as he can, and await the signal I will give him to
attack the palefaces."
"Good! My brother is a prudent chief. He will succeed. I will do exactly
as he has told me; and he, what will he do while I am executing this
portion of the general plan?"
A strange smile played on the Black Bear's lips.
"He will see," he said laying his hand on the Comanche's shoulder. "Let
him act as a chief, and I promise him a glorious victory."
"Good!" the Comanche made answer. "My brother is the first of his
nation; he knows how he should behave; the Apaches are not women. I go
to rejoin my warriors."
"'Tis well; my brother has understood. Tomorrow at the rising of the
moon."
The Jester bowed, and the two chiefs separated, apparently the best
friends in the world. A few moments later the greatest animation
prevailed in the Apache camp; the women struck the tents and loaded the
mules, the children lassoed and saddled the horses, and all preparations
were made for their departure.