The Guide of the Desert

by Gustave Aimard

  CHAPTER XI.

  A STRATEGIC ASSAULT.

  When night was come, and obscurity had completely enveloped thelandscape; Don Diogo entered the tent where the marquis was walking upand down, his head drooping, and his arms crossed on his chest.

  "Ah, 'tis you, Captain?" said the young man, stopping. "What news?"

  "Nothing, your Excellency," answered the Indian. "All is calm; thenight, I think, will be tranquil."

  "However, you have, if I am not deceived, something to say to me."

  "Just so, your Excellency; I come to announce that I am about to quitthe camp."

  "You quit the camp!"

  "Is it not necessary that I go out for information?"

  "True; how long do you reckon to be on this excursion?"

  "Who can say, your Excellency? Perhaps one day, perhaps two; perhapsonly a few hours. All will depend on circumstances. It is possible thatI shall never return."

  The marquis remained an instant--his eyes fixed with a strangeexpression on the captain.

  "Don Diogo," said he, at last, placing his hand in a friendly way onhis shoulder, "before leaving me, permit me to ask you a question."

  "Do so, my lord."

  "What is the reason which induces you to manifest so great adevotion--so complete a self-denial?"

  "What good would it do to tell you, my lord; you would not understandme."

  "Several times have I asked myself this question without being able toreply. We have only known each other two months; before the treason ofMalco, I had scarcely exchanged a few ordinary words with you."

  "Mon Dieu, my lord," carelessly answered the Indian; "I in nowiseinterest myself in you, believe me."

  "But, then," cried the marquis, with the utmost surprise, "why riskyour life for me?"

  "I have told you, my lord, that you would not understand me."

  "Never mind, my friend; answer my question, I beg you."

  "You wish it, your Excellency?"

  "I demand it, as far as I am permitted to have my way on such a matter."

  "Be it so; listen to me then, my lord; only I doubt, I repeat, whetheryou will understand me."

  "Speak, speak."

  "Do not be angry, then, my lord, I beg you, if what you are about tohear should appear a little hard. To a question frankly put I mustmake a candid answer. You personally do not interest me at all. Youyourself have said that I scarcely know you. Only it happens that youare in some respects under my keeping; that when I was placed underyour orders, I swore to defend you in all circumstances during the timewe should travel together. When that miserable Malco betrayed you, Iunderstood the responsibility that the treason caused to devolve uponme."

  "But," interrupted the marquis, "that is no reason why you shouldsacrifice your life."

  "It is not to you, my lord, it is to myself that I make thissacrifice--to my honour, which would be wounded if I did not, ifnecessary, fall by your side, in trying, up to the last moment, toprotect you, and to make a shield for you by my body. But," addedhe, with a sad smile, "of what use is it to dwell on this subject mylord? Profit by my devotion, without disquieting yourself about othermatters. Moreover, it is not so great a thing as you think."

  "How is that?"

  "Eh! Mon Dieu, my lord, for a very simple reason; we soldados daconquista, who incessantly make war against the Indian bravos,continually stake our lives, and always finish by being killed in someambuscade. You see that the sacrifice I make for you is very little,and does not merit in any way that I should glory in it."

  Don Roque felt emotion in spite of himself, at the artless loyalty ofthis half-civilised man.

  "You are worth more than I am," he said, holding out his hand.

  "Why, no, my lord; I am less civilised, that is all; and," hecontinued, "now that I have answered your question, we will, if youplease, return to our business."

  "I do not ask anything better, Captain; you told me, I think, that youintended to quit the camp?"

  "We have not an instant to lose to try and gain information; we have todo, do not forget, with Indian bravos--the cleverest and bravest of thedesert. They are tough adversaries."

  "I begin to believe it."

  "While I am absent, remain in the camp, keep a good watch, and makeyourself personally certain that the sentinels do not sleep at theirpost."

  "Depend upon me for that."

  "I forgot one very important thing, my lord; if you are attacked by theIndians during my absence, and hard put to it, attach a red faja to thehighest branch of the watch tree; this faja I shall see in whateverplace I may be."

  "That shall be done; have you any other recommendations?"

  "None, your Excellency; it only remains for me now to take leave.Remember not to go out."

  "I shall not stir a step; that's agreed on. You will find me again, Ihope, in as good a situation as that in which you leave me."

  "I hope so, my lord. Au revoir!"

  Diogo bowed a second time, and left the tent.

  The captain set out from the camp on foot.

  The soldados da conquista rarely use horses; they only employ them whenthey have a long journey on the plain, for the Brazilian forests are sothick and encumbered with ivy and creeping plants, that it is literallyimpossible to traverse them, otherwise than hatchet in hand, whichrenders a horse not only useless, but in some respects an obstruction,to his master, by the embarrassment which he continually causes.

  Thus the soldados da conquista are generally excellent pioneers. Thesemen have legs of iron, nothing stops or retards them; they march witha speed and certainty which would shame our chasseurs a pied, who,nevertheless, justly enjoy a reputation as hardy fellows on the march.

  Captain Diogo enjoyed among his companions--good judges in such amatter--a reputation for uncommon sagacity. He had on many occasionsgiven proofs of admirable skill and address, but he had never foundhimself in such difficult circumstances before.

  The Indian bravos, of whom he was the implacable foe, and to whom hehad caused irreparable losses, held him in deadly hatred, mingled withsuperstitious terror. Diogo had so often, and with such good fortune,escaped the snares spread under his feet--so often escaped a nearlycertain death--that the Indians had come to believe that this man wasprotected by some unknown charm, and that he possessed supernaturalpower.

  The captain knew well the opinion that the Indians had of him; he knewthat if ever he fell into their hands, not only had he no quarter tohope for, but, moreover, that he had to expect the most frightfultortures. This certainly, however, had no influence on his mind; hisboldness was not dismayed, and, far from taking precautions during thecourse of his various expeditions, it was with unspeakable pleasurethat he braved his adversaries to the face.

  The expedition that he was now making was the boldest and mostdifficult of all he had attempted.

  His intention was nothing less than to enter a village of theGuaycurus, to be present at their meetings, and thus succeed indiscovering their secrets.

  After having left the camp, the captain rapidly descended the hill,proceeding, notwithstanding the thick darkness which surrounded him,with as much certainty as by daylight, and walking with such lightness,that the noise of his steps would, at some yards' distance, have beenimperceptible to the most practised ear.

  When he had reached the bank of the river, he looked around him aninstant; then he threw himself on the ground, and commenced to crawlgently in the direction of a neighbouring wood, a part of which waswashed by the water of a river.

  Arrived at two or three steps from the wood, the Indian suddenlystopped, and thus remained for several minutes, without even the noiseof his breathing being heard.

  Then, after having, by looking around him, sounded the darkness, as itwere, he huddled himself into a small space, like a wild beast ready totake a spring. Seizing his knife in the right hand, he lightly raisedhis head, and imitated, with rare accuracy, the hissing of the giboya,or boa constrictor.

  Scarcely had this hissing s
ound been heard when the branches of thethicket were agitated; they were then separated with violence, and anIndian bounded in fright towards the river. At the same moment thecaptain darted behind him, buried his knife in the Indian's neck, andlaid him dead at his feet.

  This murder had been committed in less time than it has taken us torelate it. But a few seconds had flown, and the warrior was lyinglifeless before his implacable enemy.

  Don Diogo coolly wiped his knife with a tuft of grass, replaced it inhis girdle, and leaning over his victim, he regarded him attentively.

  "Come," he murmured, "fortune has favoured me; this is one of thechiefs; his costume will suit me."

  After this "aside," which explained the secret motive for the murderhe had just committed in so rude a manner, the captain took upon hisshoulders the body of the Guaycurus, and concealed himself with it inthe thicket, from which he had so skilfully drawn his enemy.

  The reader must not conclude, from what we have just related, that thecaptain was a ferocious and sanguinary man. Don Diogo enjoyed amongsthis companions a merited reputation for kindness and humanity, but thecircumstances in which he was placed at that moment were exceptional.It was evident that if the Guaycurus spy, whom he had surprised and sopitilessly killed, had perceived him first, he would have stabbed himwithout hesitation. For that matter, the captain had taken care to sayas much himself to the marquis. The war which was commencing was one oftreachery and ambush.

  Time was precious; he therefore hastened to despoil his victim, inwhose vestments he clothed himself. By a fortunate coincidence the twomen were about the same size.

  The Indians possess a particular talent, not only for personation, buteven put themselves into the very skin of those whose features theywish to borrow.

  With very trifling exceptions, the painting of the Guaycurus chiefsis all the same, and as their bearing differs very little, when anIndian of pure race assumes their costume, he easily attains a completedisguise.

  In a few instants the dead man was despoiled; only the captain tookcare to place under the enemy's poncho his own pistols and knife.

  After having carefully concealed his own vestments in a hole whichhe dug for that purpose, the captain assured himself that profoundsilence reigned around him; then, reassured or nearly so, he took thecorpse again upon his shoulders, attached a large stone to its neck, toprevent it from floating, and, carefully separating the branches of thethicket (the roots of which were planted in the water), he pushed itgently into the river, without making the least noise.

  This delicate operation terminated, the captain glided again into thethicket, with a smile of satisfaction.

  Two hours thus passed away, during which the mysterious silence of thedesert was not disturbed.

  Diogo began to weary of the length of his task; he was seeking somemeans of bringing it to an end, and of joining the Guaycurus, who couldnot, in all probability, be far removed, when a slight trembling of thedry leaves awakened his attention.

  He soon perceived the step of a man who was approaching him; this man,although walking cautiously, did not appear to think the situationdangerous enough to demand great precautions--hence this tremblingwhich, slight as it was, had not escaped the delicate and experiencedear of the captain.

  But what was this man, and what did he want?

  These questions that Diogo addressed to himself, and which wereimpossible for him to answer, only resulted in alarming him seriouslyfor his personal safety.

  To guard against anything which might happen, the captain held himselfon his guard; the critical moment had arrived to contend with artificeagainst those whom he wished to deceive. He prepared himself to sustainbravely the shock, whatever it might be, with which he was threatened.

  Arrived at about four paces from the thicket, in the midst of whichthe captain had placed himself--motionless and silent as a block ofgranite--the unknown rover stopped.

  For some seconds there was perfect silence, during which one couldalmost have heard the brave soldier's heart beating.

  He could not, by reason of the darkness, see his enemy, but he guessedwhere he was, and became very uneasy, considering his silence and hisstillness as a bad omen.

  On a sudden the cry of an owl was heard in the air twice repeated.Perfectly modulated as this imitation was, the ear of an Indian couldnot be deceived.

  The captain understood that this cry was a signal from his unknownvisitor; but to whom was it addressed? Was it to him, or was it to somewarriors ensconced in the neighbouring thickets?

  Perhaps the precautions of Diogo had not been well taken; the knotwhich tied the cord round the neck of the warrior whom he had killedhad perhaps come undone, the body had floated, and the Guaycurus,perceiving the corpse, had discovered the treason, and were coming atthis moment to avenge their brother by killing his assassin.

  These various thoughts crossed the mind of the soldier like a flashof lightning; however, it was necessary to act, any hesitation wouldhave ruined him. So, recommending himself to fate, the captain made adesperate effort, and, in his turn, imitated twice the cry of the owl.

  He then waited with anxiety the result of this desperate attempt, notdaring to believe in its success.

  This uncertainty was short; almost at the same instant the man, whoeverhe might be, who was concealed near the thicket, raised his voice. Hespoke in the Guaycurus language, which Diogo not only understood, butspoke with race perfection.

  "My brother, has the Grand Sarigue seen the whites?"

  "No."

  "Good! Come."

  After having exchanged these few words, Don Diogo obeyed the injunctionthat was thus given him, and boldly came out of the thicket, although,despite the success of his stratagem, he did not feel himselfcompletely reassured.

  The Indian, whom he recognised at the first glance to be Tarou Niomhimself, was so convinced he was dealing with one of his own warriors,that he did not even give himself the trouble to examine him. Moreover,the chief appeared to be preoccupied.

  "These dogs, then, have not ventured to scour the plain during thedarkness?" asked he.

  "No," answered Diogo, "they remain together like poltroon dogs, they donot dare to stir."

  "I thought them more brave and skilful. They have with them a man whoknows the desert well--a traitor, as to whom I reserve myself to puthot coals into his eyes, and cut out his lying tongue."

  The captain inwardly trembled at these threats, which were addressed tohim.

  "This dog shall die," said he.

  "He and those whom he conducts," answered the chief. "I have need of mybrother."

  "I am at the orders of Tarou Niom."

  "_Epoi_, I speak. For the success of my projects we must have theassistance of the Payagoas, without their war canoes I can attemptnothing. Emavidi Chaime has promised to send me fifty, each manned byten warriors, as soon as I express my wish for them. My brother, theGrand Sarigue, will go and ask for these canoes?"

  "I will go."

  "I have myself brought here my brother's horse, in order that he maylose no time. Here is my _keaio_,[1] my brother will show it to EmavidiChaime, the chief of the Payagoas, on the part of his friend TarouNiom, and will say to him--"

  "'Tarou Niom demands the accomplishment of the promise made.'"

  "I will say it," said Diogo.

  "Good, my brother is a great warrior; I love him, let him follow me."

  The two men then began to march rapidly without speaking, one behindthe other.

  Don Diogo inwardly congratulated himself on the fate which had beenpleased to arrange matters so well, for he feared the piercing eye ofthe Guaycurus chief, and it was with a secret apprehension that hethought of the moment when they should both arrive at the camp, wherethe light of the watch fires would reveal his disguise to the eyes ofthe Guaycurus--so difficult to deceive, and who, moreover, knew the manhe personated too well to allow him to impose upon them.

  Meanwhile the two men reached a glade where two horses were held by thebridle by
a slave.

  "Here is the horse of my brother, let him depart," said Tarou Niom; "Iawait his return with impatience. He proceeds towards the south. As forme, I return to the camp, soon to see you again."

  Diogo did not know which of the two horses was his own; fearing to makea mistake, and to take one for the other, he feigned to stumble inorder to give the chief time to put himself in the saddle, which thelatter, whose suspicion was not awakened, did immediately.

  Diogo imitated his example.

  The two men buried their spurs in the flanks of their horses, and wentoff at full speed in different directions.

  When he was at last alone, the captain could not suppress a sigh ofrelief.

  [1] knife.