"I have mistaken the way to the camp!" and I stepped forward to the edge
of the barranca for the purpose of assuring myself. What was my
astonishment to find that I had been going in the right direction, and
that the sounds were coming from the opposite quarter.
My first thought was that the band had passed me, and were moving on the
route.
"But no; Seguin would not. Oh! he has sent of a party to search for me:
it is they."
I called out "Hollo!" to let them know where I was. There was no
answer; and I shouted again, louder than before. All at once the sounds
ceased. I knew the horsemen were listening, and I called once more at
the top of my voice. There was a moment's silence! Then I could hear a
muttering of many voices and the trampling of horses as they galloped
towards me.
I wondered that none of them had yet answered my signal; but my wonder
was changed into consternation when I perceived that the approaching
party were on the other side of the barranca!
Before I could recover from my surprise, they were opposite me and
reining up on the bank of the chasm. They were still three hundred
yards distant, the width of the gulf; but I could see them plainly
through the thin and filmy fog. There appeared in all about a hundred
horsemen; and their long spears, their plumed heads, and half-naked
bodies, told me at a glance they were Indians!
I stayed to inquire no further, but ran with all my speed for the camp.
I could see the horsemen on the opposite cliff keeping pace with me at a
slow gallop.
On reaching the spring I found the hunters in surprise, and vaulting
into their saddles. Seguin and a few others had gone out on the extreme
edge, and were looking over. They had not thought of an immediate
retreat, as the enemy, having the advantage of the light, had already
discovered the strength of our party.
Though only a distance of three hundred yards separated the hostile
bands, twenty miles would have to be passed before they could meet in
battle. On this account Seguin and the hunters felt secure for the
time; and it was hastily resolved to remain where we were, until we had
examined who and what were our opponents.
They had halted on the opposite bank, and sat in their saddles, gazing
across. They seemed puzzled at our appearance. It was still too dark
for them to distinguish our complexions. Soon, however, it grew
clearer; our peculiar dress and equipments were recognised; and a wild
yell, the Navajo war-cry, came pealing over the abyss!
"It's Dacoma's party!" cried a voice, "they have taken the wrong side o'
the gully."
"No," exclaimed another, "thar's too few o' them for Dacoma's men. Thar
ain't over a hundred."
"Maybe the flood tuk the rest," suggested the first speaker.
"Wagh! how could they 'a missed our trail, that's as plain as a waggon
track? 'Tain't them nohow."
"Who then? It's Navagh. I kud tell thar yelp if I wur sleepin'."
"Them's head chief's niggurs," said Rube, at this moment riding forward.
"Looke! yonder's the old skunk hisself, on the spotted hoss!"
"You think it is they, Rube?" inquired Seguin.
"Sure as shootin', cap."
"But where are the rest of his band? These are not all."
"They ain't far off, I'll be boun'. Hish-sh! I hear them a-comin'."
"Yonder's a crowd! Look, boys! look!"
Through the fog, now floating away, a dark body of mounted men were seen
coming up the opposite side. They advanced with shouts and
ejaculations, as though they were driving cattle. It was so. As the
fog rose up, we could see a drove of horses, horned cattle, and sheep,
covering the plain to a great distance. Behind these rode mounted
Indians, who galloped to and fro, goading the animals with their spears,
and pushing them forward.
"Lord, what a plunder!" exclaimed one of the hunters.
"Ay, them's the fellows have made something by thar expedition. We are
comin' back empty as we went. Wagh!"
I had been engaged in saddling my horse, and at this moment came
forward. It was not upon the Indians that my eye rested, nor upon the
plundered cattle. Another object attracted my gaze, and sent the blood
curdling to my heart.
Away in the rear of the advancing drove I saw a small party, distinct
from the rest. Their light dresses fluttering in the wind told me that
they were not Indians. They were women; they were captives!
There appeared to be about twenty in all; but my feelings were such that
I took little heed of their number. I saw that they were mounted, and
that each was guarded by an Indian, who rode by her side.
With a palpitating heart I passed my eye over the group from one to the
other; but the distance was too great to distinguish the features of any
of them. I turned towards the chief. He was standing with the glass to
his eye. I saw him start; his cheek suddenly blanched; his lips
quivered convulsively, and the instrument fell from his fingers to the
ground! With a wild look he staggered back, crying out--
"Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu! Oh, God! Thou hast stricken me now!"
I snatched up the telescope to assure myself. But it needed not that.
As I was raising it, an object running along the opposite side caught my
eye. It was the dog Alp! I levelled the glass, and the next moment was
gazing through it on the face of my betrothed!
So close did she seem that I could hardly restrain myself from calling
to her. I could distinguish her pale, beautiful features. Her cheek
was wan with weeping, and her rich golden hair hung dishevelled from her
shoulders, reaching to the withers of her horse. She was covered with a
serape, and a young Indian rode beside her, mounted upon a showy horse,
and dressed in the habiliments of a Mexican hussar!
I looked at none of the others, though a glance showed me her mother in
the string of captives that came after.
The drove of horses and cattle soon passed up, and the females with
their guards arrived opposite us. The captives were left back on the
prairie, while the warriors rode forward to where their comrades had
halted by the brow of the barranca.
It was now bright day; the fog had cleared away, and across the
impassable gulf the hostile bands stood gazing at each other!