THE CAPITULATION.
Let us return to the hut of council, into which the count had been
introduced by the general. Don Bustamente had too much personal courage
not to like and appreciate that quality in another. Bowing he said,
"Your observation is perfectly just, señor----"
"Count de Prébois-Crancé;" the Frenchman finished the sentence with a
bow.
"Before any other question," said Don Pancho, "permit me, count, to
ask you how you have become personally mixed up with the men we are
besieging?"
"In the simplest way possible, señor," Louis replied, with an arch
smile, "I am travelling with some friends and servants; yesterday the
noise of a battle reached our ears; I naturally inquired what was going
on; after this, several Spanish soldiers, running away along the crest
or the mountains, intrenched themselves on the rock where I had myself
sought refuge. The battle begun in the defile was continued on the
plain; the soldiers, listening to nothing but their courage, fired upon
their enemy."
The general and the senator knew perfectly what degree of faith to
place in the veracity of this narration, in which, nevertheless, as men
of the world, they had the appearance of placing the utmost alliance.
"So then, count," the general replied, "you are head of the garrison?"
"Yes, señor--"
"General Don Pancho Bustamente."
"And is this garrison numerous?" he resumed.
"Hum! tolerably so."
"Some thirty men, perhaps?" said the general, with an insinuating smile.
"Thereabouts," the count replied, without hesitation.
The general rose.
"What, count," he exclaimed, with feigned anger, "do you pretend, with
thirty men, to resist the five hundred Araucano warriors who surround
you?"
"Any why not?" the young man replied coolly.
"Why, it is madness!" the general replied.
"Not at all, señor, it is courage."
The general knitted his brow, for the interview was taking a direction
not at all agreeable to him: he resumed, "these are my conditions; you,
count, and all the Frenchmen that accompany you, shall free to retire;
but Chilians and Aucas, whoever may be found among your troop, shall be
immediately given up."
The count's brow became clouded; he, however, bowed to all present with
great courtesy, but then walked resolutely straight out of the hut.
"Where are you going, señor?" the general said, "and why do you leave
us thus suddenly?"
"Señor," the count remarked, "after such a proposal reply is useless."
Whilst speaking thus the count kept walking on, and the five persons
had left the camp, in some sort without perceiving it, and found
themselves at a very short distance from the improvised citadel.
"Stay, señor," the general observed; "before refusing, you ought, at
least, to warn your companions."
"You are right, general," said the count.
He took out his pocketbook, wrote a few words on one of the leaves,
tore it out, and folded it.
"You shall be satisfied on the spot," he added. "Throw down a lasso!"
he cried, with a loud voice.
Almost immediately a long leathern cord passed through one of the
crevices, and came floating to within a foot of the ground. The count
took a stone, enveloped it in the sheet of paper, and tied the whole to
the end of the lasso, which was quickly drawn up.
"You will soon have an answer," he said.
All at once the moveable fortifications heaped upon the rock
disappeared at if by enchantment, and the platform appeared covered
with Chilian soldiers armed with muskets; a little in advance of them
stood Valentine and his dog Cæsar.
"Count!" Valentine cried, in a voice that sounded like a trumpet,
"in the name of your companions, you have very properly rejected
the shameful proposals made to you; we are here a hundred and fifty
resolute men, resolved to perish rather than accept them."
"That is understood," he cried to Valentine; then addressing the
chief--"You see," he said, "my companions are of my opinion."
"What does my brother wish then?" Antinahuel demanded.
"Pardieu! simply to go away," the young man replied.
Antinahuel, Black Stag, and the general consulted for a moment; then
Antinahuel said--"We agree to your terms; my young paleface brother is
a great heart."
"That is well," the count replied; "you are a brave warrior, chief, and
I thank you; but I have still one favour to ask you."
"Let my brother explain; if I can grant it I will," Antinahuel observed.
"Well!" the young man replied; "you yesterday took many prisoners--give
them up to me."
"Those prisoners are free," the Toqui said with a forced smile; "they
have already rejoined their brothers."
Louis now understood whence the unexpected increase of the garrison had
come.
"I have nothing more to do, then, but to retire," he continued.
"Oh! your pardon! your pardon!" the senator exclaimed, "I was one of
the prisoners!"
"That is true," Don Pancho observed; "what does my brother say?"
"Oh! let the man go," Antinahuel replied.
Don Ramón did not require this to be repeated; he followed the count
closely. Louis bowed courteously to the chiefs, and regained the summit
of the rock, where his companions awaited him with great anxiety.
A few hours later the gorge had fallen back again into its customary
solitude, which was alone troubled at intervals by the flight of
condors, or the terrified course of guanacos.