THE INDIAN TOWN.
How long I should have lain in this semi-comatose state I know not, had
I not been aroused by the Indian who seemed to have been appointed my
particular guard. Bringing me a portion of _tasajo_ and an _olla_ of
water, he placed them on the ground beside me, and removing the thongs
from my wrists left me to dispatch my unpalatable food as best I might;
at noon, and in the evening, he repeated the performance. With the
exception of this interruption I was left to my thoughts. My reflections
were of the bitterest and most gloomy nature. From my previous knowledge
of the habits and characteristics of my captors I was assured that my
fate was sealed; and my death only a matter of time. These savages only
captured male prisoners the better to enjoy their destruction. What
astonished me most was that they had not put me to the torture on their
arrival at the village. The fate of my poor wife was the profoundest
mystery to me, as I had not seen or heard of her since our parting on
entering the Indian town. While I was being conducted to my prison she
was hurried off to the other end of the village. The darkening gloom of
my chamber informed me of the approach of night; and recognizing how
important it was for me to secure all the repose possible, I prepared to
retire. The preparations were of the simplest character; my feet being
bound it was only necessary to stretch my form along the ground and I
was in bed. I courted sleep with persistent endeavor; but my mind was a
prey to such agonizing reflections that the drowsy god held himself
aloof. I counted backwards, rolled my eyes from side to side in their
sockets, and resorted to all the devices known to me, but with
indifferent success. All through the night the howling of the village
dogs, the wild note of the swan, and the dismal whoops of the gruya,
could be heard; and it is very difficult even under circumstances more
favorable than those in which I was then placed to sleep with these
noises ringing in one's ears. Later, when a long residence with the
tribe had made me familiar with these sounds, and their causes, I was
not unfrequently startled by them. My imagination was constantly
dwelling on my approaching fate; and I am sure I suffered enough mental
agony to suffice for a score of physical deaths. The next morning my
keeper made his entry, this time without any food for me, and I was at
once struck by his altered looks; he was oiled, and streaked with paint,
from the crown of his head to his waist; his head dress was composed of
eagles' plumes stained red, and his limbs were encased in buckskin
leggings, the seams of which were fringed with long locks of hair, which
attested to his prowess, as they were composed of scalp-locks taken from
the heads of his enemies slain in battle; the feet were encased in
moccasins, embroidered with beads and the quills of the porcupine dyed
in various colors; from his neck was suspended a collar, made of the
tusks of the javali; his tomahawk hung gracefully from his waist, and a
fine robe of jaguar-skins draped his back. Such a costume I felt sure
was only worn on state occasions; and his presence filled me with
apprehensions. I was not long held in suspense, for stooping over me he
quickly cut my fastenings, and motioning me to rise I was presently
conducted up the ladder and out into the village street.
Emerging from the darkness into the bright sunlight, I was at first
unable to distinguish objects, but as soon as my eyes became accustomed
to the glare, I was struck with astonishment at the scene of bustle and
activity that met my gaze. Indian women, children, dogs and braves, were
hurrying to and fro, seemingly intent on business of a most pressing and
important character. My appearance was the signal for a succession of
howls and yah! yahs! from the assembled crowd. The women clustered
around me and gave expression to their hate in kicks, pinches and jeers;
even the dogs snapped at my heels. After a walk of a few minutes, we
cleared the skirts of the village, and shaping our course towards the
river that ran through the centre of the valley, I was soon among a
crowd of other captives. They were composed of Mexicans, chiefly, and
all bore evidence of the struggle they had passed through, before
yielding up their liberty; their clothes were torn, disclosing here and
there ugly gashes, from which the blood had not yet ceased to ooze. One
man among them especially attracted my attention. He was dressed in the
costume of the mountain trapper, and his fur cap, fitting closely to his
head, was a fit accompaniment to his tunic and leggings of dressed
deerskin; his face had a peculiar expression which I could not account
for, until I discovered that he had only one eye. At this time an Indian
advanced toward us, bearing in his arms a quantity of small stakes; I
was at loss to understand what was to transpire, when I heard my
one-eyed companion mutter under his breath, "drat 'em, they be a goin'
to stake us." Sure enough this was their intention; seizing us one by
one, they stretched us on the turf in three files, the heads of one file
resting between the feet of the row above him; driving the stakes firmly
into the ground, they fastened thongs of raw hide to our wrists and
ankles, and passing them around the pins, drew our feet and arms out to
their utmost tension, making our joints fairly crack. Pinioned in this
way, our heads were the only moveable parts of our bodies, and our
upturned faces had the full benefit of the sun's rays, being subjected
at the same time to attacks of swarms of insects. This torture was so
very painful that many fainted, but the women soon brought the victims
to consciousness by dashing an olla of water in their faces, and with
yells of delight witnessed the renewal of the poor fellows' agonies. I
was so completely disguised in dirt, that the flies seemed to pass me by
in despair; and being thus in a measure relieved, I turned my attention
to my companion on my right, the trapper. He seemed to be taking things
very quietly, and evinced great patience and fortitude under his trials.
The squaws were particularly attentive to him; and at the time I turned
my head in his direction, two hags were amusing themselves sticking
sharp pointed sticks into his body; he bore it manfully, but I saw tears
of agony streaming from under his eyelids. Presently the air was filled
with yells and whoops; our tormentors rushed off pell-mell, the guards
only remaining. I asked what was the meaning of this new outbreak; to
which the trapper replied that he supposed it was caused by the arrival
of a new lot of those "gosh darned red niggers."
Deeming this a good opportunity, I questioned him as to the intentions
of our captors; to which he replied that we would be kept staked out in
this barbarous way until the games and feasting, with which they always
celebrated successful forays, had been completed; and then we would be
put to torture and death.
"How will they kill us?" I asked.
"O, darn 'em, the varmints have as many ways as I have fingers and toes,
to knock the life out of a chap; they most allus makes us run the
gantlet, leastwise the Kimanch does; but ye see, they air such mighty
unsartin niggers, they does a'most enything but what yer expect them
ter."
"Will we have to remain in this position until the Indians are ready to
torture us?" I asked.
"'Spect so," briefly answered my neighbor.
The guard was now nearing us, and we remained silent.
The feasting and festivities had now begun. We were unfastened and
removed to the centre of the village, where a dance was about to begin.
Our feet were still bound, but we could assume a sitting posture; thus
situated, I saw for the first time the _mamanchic_. The young girls only
take part in this celebration; they go through a number of graceful and
intricate evolutions, finishing by forming in a semi-circle around the
chief and his queen, who are seated on a terrace of the temple. I was so
much more interested in trying to discover my wife among the numerous
lookers on, that I paid no special attention to the dance. The
performance having come to an end, we were again staked out, and our
captors returned to their feasting, slaughtering fresh cattle to satisfy
the demands of their appetites. Our wants were not so well supplied.
The next morning the games were renewed; this time we were taken out on
the prairie to witness the feats of horsemanship, performed by the
braves and their visitors. These were very fine, and for the time being
I forgot my own position in the interest excited in the daring feats of
these children of the plains. They rode their horses at top speed;
vaulting on their backs and discharging arrows with as much apparent
ease as if they stood still. They went through all the evolutions of
Indian warfare, and ended with a mock battle; their yells alone would
have dismayed an ordinary adversary.
Thirsty and tired, I and my companions were led back to our old position
and again securely fastened. Turning to Black, I said that I supposed
they would open the festivities to-morrow with our torture and death; to
which he replied that he "'spected they would." At least I thought, it
will only be another species of torture, and we would be quickly
released from it by death. Our guard now brought us some water and burnt
meat, of which we were allowed to partake.
The thongs are again tightened; our guards move among us to see that all
is secure; and the sentinel for the evening watch having been detailed,
we are left to silence and our own thoughts--thoughts of our approaching
doom, and perhaps of the loved ones far away in some Mexican border
town, whose unavailing prayers are being offered up for our safety.
Filled with these emotions, some poor fellow would give expression to
his pent-up feelings in a long drawn sigh; the only sound that broke
upon the stillness of the night. The moon's beams penetrated into the
valley; the argent rays shedding a soft and subdued light, as they
pierced the mist that was rising from the river. I knew that death was
our portion, but little did I dream that on such scenes such awful morn
should rise.