In an exulting tone, the savage chief broke silence. "_Bueno_!" cried
he, as soon as he saw that my eyes were upon him--"_bueno, bueno_! The
pale-face still lives! the heart of the Red-Hand is glad of it--ha, ha,
ha! Give him to drink of the fire-water of Taos! Let him be strong!
Fill him with life, that death may be all the more bitter to him!"
These orders were delivered to his follower, who, in obedience to them,
removed the gag; and, holding to my lips a calabash filled with Taos
whiskey, poured a quantity of the liquor down my throat. The beverage
produced the effect which the savage chief appeared to desire. Scarcely
had I swallowed the fiery spirit when my strength and senses were
restored to their full vigour--but only to make me feel more keenly the
situation in which I stood--to comprehend more acutely the appalling
prospect that was before me. This was the design in resuscitating me.
No other purpose had the cruel savage. Had I entertained any doubt as
to the motive, his preliminary speech would have enlightened me; but it
was made still clearer by that which followed.
"Dog of a pale-face!" cried he, brandishing a long Spanish knife before
my eyes; "you shall see how the Red-Hand can revenge himself upon the
enemies of his race. The slayer of Panthers, and the White Eagle, shall
die a hundred deaths. They have mocked the forest maiden, who has
followed them from afar. Her vengeance shall be satisfied; and the
Red-Hand will have his joy--ha, ha, ha!"
Uttering a peal of demoniac laughter, the Indian held the point of the
knife close to my forehead--as if about to drive the blade into my eyes!
It was but a feint to produce terror--a spectacle which this monster
was said to enjoy.
Wingrove was still alive: the wretch Su-wa-nee must be near?
"_Carajo_!" again yelled the savage. "What promised you the Red-Hand?
To cut the living flesh from your bones? But _no_--that would be
merciful. The Arapahoes have contrived a sweeter vengeance--one that
will appease the spirits of our slain warriors. We shall combine sport
with the sacrifice of the pale-faced dogs--ha, ha, ha!"
After another fiendish cachinnation, far more horrible to hear than his
words of menace, the monster continued:
"Dog! you refused to instruct the Arapaho in the skill of the
fire-weapon; but you shall furnish them with at least one lesson before
you die--ha, ha! You shall soon experience the pleasant death we have
prepared for you! Ugh!"
"Haste!" he continued, addressing himself to his follower; "prepare him
for the sacrifice! Our warriors are impatient for the sport. The blood
of our brothers is calling for vengeance. This in white, with a red
spot in the centre--the rest of his body in black."
These mysterious directions were accompanied by a corresponding gesture.
With the point of his knife, the savage traced a circle upon my
breast--just as if he had been _scribing_ it on the bark of a tree. The
scratch was light, though here and there it drew blood. At the words
"red spot in the centre," as if to make the direction more emphatic, he
punctured the spot with his knife till the blood flowed freely. Had he
driven the blade to its hilt, I could not have flinched: I was fixed
firmly as the post to which they had bound me. I could not speak a
word--either to question his intent, or reply to his menace. The gag
was still between my teeth, and I was necessarily silent. It mattered
little about my remaining silent. Had my tongue been free, it would
have been idle to use it. In the wolf's visage, there was no one trait
of clemency: every feature bespoke the obduracy of unrelenting cruelty.
I knew that he would only have mocked any appeal I might have made. It
was just as well that I had no opportunity of making it. After giving
some further directions to his follower--and once more repeating his
savage menace, in the same exulting tone--he passed behind me; and I
lost sight of him. But I could tell by the noise that reached me at
intervals, that he had gone down from the rock, and was returning to his
warriors upon the plain.
It was the first time since my face-fastenings had been cut loose, that
I had a thought of looking in that direction. During all the while that
the Red-Hand stood by me, I had been in constant dread of instant
death--or of some equally fearful issue. The gleaming blade had never
been out of my eyes for two seconds at a time; for in the gesticulations
that accompanied his speeches, the steel had played an important part,
and I knew not the moment, it might please the ferocious savage to put
an end to my life. Now that he was gone, and I found a respite from his
torturing menace, my eyes turned mechanically to the plain. I there
beheld a spectacle, that under other circumstances might have filled me
with horror. Not so then. The agony of my thoughts was already too
keen to be further quickened. Even the gory skull of one of my
comrades, who lay scalped upon the sward, scarcely added an emotion. It
was a sight I had anticipated. They could not all be alive.