The Trail-Hunter: A Tale of the Far West

by Gustave Aimard

  CHAPTER VII.

  THE INTERVIEW.

  At daybreak the next morning Curumilla started for Unicorn's village. Atsunset he returned to the cavern, accompanied by the Comanche chief. Thesachem entertained the most profound respect for Father Seraphin, whosenoble character he could appreciate, and felt pained at the state inwhich he found him.

  "Father," he said to him as he kissed his hand. "Who are the villainswho thus wounded you, to whom the Master of Life has imparted the secretto make us happy? Whoever they may be, these men shall die."

  "My son," the priest answered gently, "I will not pronounce before youthe name of the unhappy man who, in a moment of madness, raised his handagainst me. My God is a God of peace; He is merciful, and recommends Hiscreatures to forget injuries, and requite good for evil."

  The Indian looked at him in amazement. He did not understand the softand touching sublimity of these precepts of love. Educated in thesanguinary principles of his race--persuaded, like all redskins, that awarrior's first duty is revenge--he only admitted that atrocious law ofthe prairies which commands, "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth"--a terriblelaw, which we do not venture, however, utterly to condemn in thesecountries, where ambushes are permanent, and implacable death stands atevery corner of the road.

  "My son," Father Seraphin continued, "you are a great warrior. Many atime you have braved the atrocious tortures of the stake of blood, athousand fold more terrible than death itself. Often have you, with apleasure I excuse (for it is in your nature), thrown down your enemy,and planted your knee on his chest. Have you never pardoned anybody infight?"

  "Never!" the Indian answered, his eye sparkling with satisfied pride."Unicorn has sent many Apache dogs to the happy hunting grounds: theirscalps are drying at the door of his cabin."

  "Well," the missionary said gently, "try clemency once, only once, andyou will know one of the greatest pleasures God has granted to man onearth--that of pardoning."

  The chief shook his head.

  "No," he said; "a dead enemy is no longer to be feared. Better to killthan leave him means to avenge himself at a later date."

  "My son, you love me, I believe?"

  "Yes. My father is good; he has behaved well to the Comanches, and theyare grateful. Let my father command, and his son will obey."

  "I have no right to give you an order, my son. I can only ask a favour ofyou."

  "Good! My father can explain himself. Unicorn will do what he desires."

  "Well, then," said the missionary with a lively feeling of joy, "promiseme to pardon the first unhappy man, whoever he may be, who falls into;your hands, and you will render me happy."

  The chief frowned, and an expression of dissatisfaction appeared on hisfeatures. Father Seraphin anxiously followed on the Comanche'sintelligent countenance the different shadows reflected on it as in amirror. At length the Indian regained his stoicism, and his face grewserene again.

  "Does my father demand it?" he asked in a gentle voice.

  "I desire it."

  "Be it so: my father shall be satisfied. I promise him to pardon thefirst enemy whom the Manitou causes to fall beneath the point of mylance."

  "Thanks, chief," the missionary exclaimed joyfully, "thanks! Heaven willreward you for this good idea."

  The Indian bowed silently and turned to Valentine, who had beenlistening to the conversation.

  "My brother called me, and I came. What does he want of Unicorn?"

  "My brother will take his seat at the council fire, and smoke thecalumet with his friend. Chiefs do not speak without reflecting on thewords they are about to utter."

  "My brother speaks well, and I will take my seat at his fire."

  Curumilla had lighted a large fire in the first grotto of the cavern.The four men left Father Seraphin to take a few moments' rest, andseated themselves round the fire, when the calumet passed from hand tohand. The Indians never undertake anything important, or commence adiscussion, without first smoking the calumet in council, whatever maybe the circumstances in which they are placed. When the calumet had gonethe round Valentine rose.

  "Every day," he said, bowing to the chief, "I appreciate more and morethe honor the Comanches did me in adopting me as a son. My brother'snation is powerful; its hunting grounds cover the whole surface of theearth. The Apaches fly before the Comanche warriors like cowardlycoyotes before courageous men. My brother has already several times doneme a service with that greatness of soul which distinguishes him, andcan only belong to a warrior so celebrated as he is. Today I have againa service to ask of my brother, and will he do it me? I presume so; forI know his heart, and that the Great Spirit of the Master of Life dwellsin him."

  "Let my brother explain," Unicorn answered. "He is speaking to a chief;he must remove the skin from his heart and let his blood flow red andbright before a friend. The great white hunter is a portion of myself. Ishould have to be prevented by an arrant impossibility if I refused anyrequest emanating from him."

  "Thanks, brother," Valentine said with emotion. "Your words have passedfrom your lips into my breast, which they have rejoiced. I am notmistaken. I see that I can ever count on your well-tried friendship andhonest aid. Acumapicthzin de Zarate, the descendant of the Mexicankings, the friend of the redskins, whom he has ever protected, is aprisoner to the gachupinos. They have carried him to Santa Fe in orderto put him to death, and deprive the Indians of the last friend leftthem."

  "And what does my brother want?"

  "I wish to save my friend."

  "Good!" the chief answered. "My brother claims my help to succeed inthat project, I suppose?"

  "Yes."

  "Good! The descendant of the Tlatoanis shall be saved. My brother canfeel reassured."

  "I can count, then, on my brother's aid?" Valentine asked quickly.

  The chief smiled.

  "Unicorn holds in his hands Spaniards who will answer for the life ofthe prisoner."

  "That is true!" Valentine exclaimed as he struck his forehead. "Youridea is a good one, chief."

  "My brother will leave me to act. I answer for success on my head."

  "_Caramba!_ Act as you please, chief. Still, were it only form's sake, Ishould not be sorry to know what you intend doing."

  "My brother has a white skin, but his heart is Indian. Let him trust tothe prudence of a chief; Unicorn knows how to treat with thegachupinos."

  "Doubtless."

  "Unicorn will go to Santa Fe to speak with the chief of the white men."

  Valentine looked at him in amazement. The chief smiled.

  "Have I not hostages?" he said.

  "That is true," Valentine remarked.

  The chief went on:--

  "The Spaniards are like chattering old women, prodigal of seductivewords, but Unicorn knows them. How many times already has he trodden thewarpath on their territory at the head of his warriors! They will notdare to deceive him. Ere the sun has twice accomplished its revolutionround the tortoise whose immense shell supports the world, the chief ofthe Comanches will carry the bloody arrows to the whites, and propose tothem peace or war. Is my brother satisfied?"

  "I am. My heart is full of gratitude toward my red brother."

  "Good! What is that to Unicorn? Less than nothing. Has my brotheranything else to ask of me?"

  "One thing more."

  "Let my brother explain himself as quickly as possible, that no cloudmay remain between him and his red brother."

  "I will do so. Men without fear of the Great Spirit, urged by some maddesire, have carried off Dona Clara, the daughter of the white chiefwhom my brother pledged to save."

  "Who are these? Does my brother know them?"

  "Yes, I know them only too well. They are bandits, at the head of whomis a monster with a human face, called Red Cedar."

  At this name the Indian started slightly, his eye flashed fire, and adeep wrinkle hollowed his forehead.

  "Red Cedar is a ferocious jaguar," he said with concentrated passion."He has made himself the scourge
of the Indians, whose scalps hedesires. This man has no pity either for women or children, but hepossesses no courage: he only attacks his enemies in the dark, twentyagainst one, and when he is sure of meeting with no resistance."

  "My brother knows this man, I see."

  "And this man has carried off the white gazelle?'

  "Yes."

  "Good! My brother wishes to know what Red Cedar has done with hisprisoner?"

  "I do wish it."

  The Indian rose.

  "Time is slipping away," he said. "Unicorn will return to his friends.My brother the hunter need not feel alarmed: a chief is watching."

  After uttering these few words the chief went down into the cavern,mounted his horse, and disappeared in direction of the desert. Valentinehad every reason to be satisfied with his interview with the Comanchechief; but Father Seraphin was less pleased than the hunter. The worthypriest, both through his nature and his vocation, was not disposed toemploy violent measures, which were repugnant to him: he would haveliked, were it possible, to settle everything by gentleness, and withoutrunning the risk of bloodshed.

  Three weeks elapsed, however, ere Unicorn appeared to be effectuallycarrying out the plan he had explained to Valentine, who only learntindirectly that a strong party of Comanche warriors had invaded theMexican frontiers. Father Seraphin, though not yet completely cured, hadinsisted on proceeding to Santa Fe to take some steps to save DonMiguel, whose trial had gone on rapidly, who was on the point of beingexecuted. For his part Don Pablo, half mad with uneasiness, alsoinsisted, in spite of Valentine's entreaties and remarks, on enteringSanta Fe furtively, and trying to see his father.

  The night on which we found Valentine in the clearing Unicorn visitedhim for the first time in a month: he came to inform him of the successof the measures he had taken. Valentine, used to Indian habits,understood half a word: hence he had not hesitated to announce to DonPablo as a positive fact that his father would soon be free.