The Queen of the Savannah: A Story of the Mexican War

by Gustave Aimard

  CHAPTER XXVIII.

  PREPARATIONS FOR A RESCUE.

  We will now leave the Comanche camp for a season, and return to theHacienda del Rio, belonging to Count de Melgosa, whither we have beforetaken the reader, and to which the count ordered the wounded man tobe conveyed. When they approached the hacienda, the Canadian remarkedto the count that perhaps Don Melchior, owing to his weakness, couldnot be able to stand crossing the stream, and the ascent of the hill,which was rendered more fatiguing by the steepness of the path that ledto the front gate. The count began laughing.

  "What is it that amuses your Excellency?" the Canadian asked.

  "Well," the count answered, "I am laughing at your simplicity, myfriend."

  "My simplicity!"

  "Yes; I fancied you better acquainted with strategics."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Hang it all! You ought to know that a good general never lets himselfbe besieged without having the means to break the blockade when hethinks proper."

  "Ah, ah!" the hunter said with a smile, "I suspected it; but no matter.Go on, Excellency."

  "Does it interest you?"

  "Enormously."

  "Ah!" he said, giving him an inquiring glance.

  "Oh, simply from an artistic point of view."

  "Very good; well, I wish to prove to you what value I set on you, andwhat faith I have in your honour."

  "You were wrong to doubt it, Excellency."

  "I believe so. Then I will show you what no living being has ever yetseen."

  "By Jove, Excellency, permit me to remark to you that what you aredoing is most imprudent."

  "With anyone else it would certainly be so; but are you not my friend?"

  "I hope so, Excellency."

  "In that case, it is no longer imprudent, but merely a mark ofconfidence. Diego Lopez," he added, turning to the peon, "go to theright."

  "Excellency," the latter said respectfully, "if we go to the rightafter passing that clump of larches, sumachs, and floripondios, weshall come to an impassable belt of rocks which border the river onthat side."

  "Nonsense," the count continued with a smile; "never mind; go on."

  Diego Lopez bowed, and at once went in the direction ordered. The roadhad to be cut with the axe, and they only advanced step by step. Afterabout an hour of extremely fatiguing toil, the band reached, as DiegoLopez had predicted, the foot of an enormous and irregular mass ofrocks heaped on each other to a great height. They were forced to halt,owing to the material impossibility of going any further.

  "You see, Excellency," Diego Lopez said, with the satisfaction of aservant who believes he has got the best of his master.

  "Yes, yes, I see," the count replied, as he attentively examined therocks; "be kind enough, Senor Clary, to hold my horse for a moment."

  He dismounted, threw the bridle to the Canadian, and said to the peon--

  "Come hither, Diego."

  The latter followed him without a word, vainly torturing his brain toguess what his master intended to do. The count walked straight up tothe rocks; on reaching a certain spot he stooped, and after a moment'sreflection, said--

  "Thrust your gun barrel into that crack, and press."

  The peon obeyed with the passive resignation of a good servant, andafter a few efforts a rather large block started and fell to the ground.

  "Very good," the count said; "go on; now this one." A second stone,larger than the first, fell, and revealed the entrance of a cave.

  "Now," the count continued, "enlarge the passage."

  "By heavens!" the Canadian exclaimed, "That is prodigious, and we canpass through, horses and all."

  "Of course. Do you not know that all the haciendas of any size in thiscountry were built by the first conquistadors of the country, who,being daily exposed to the attacks of the Indians, were obliged to digpassages of this nature, which allowed them, in the event of a siege,to procure provisions, or call in the aid of their friends and allies?"

  "And you are not afraid to show this passage to _me?_" the Canadiansaid, in wonderment.

  "Why should I be afraid? I repeat, that you are a friend, and that Ihave faith in you."

  "That is true," the Canadian replied; "but, no matter," he added, witha shake of his head, "you have run a tremendous risk."

  "Nonsense," the count continued, with a careless shrug of the shoulder."With you?"

  While they were conversing, Diego Lopez and his comrades had worked sowell that the entrance was now wide enough for the little band to pass.

  "Come," said the count.

  They went in, and when the last peon had passed through, the countcontinued--

  "Now, Diego Lopez, put the stones back in their place as well as youcan, for it is useless to show other people the road we have taken."

  The peons set to work, and in less than half an hour the entrance wasonce more hermetically closed, and so skilfully, that no one couldhave detected it from the outside. The passage in which the Spaniardsfound themselves was probably lighted by a multitude of imperceptiblefissures, which at the same time renewed the stock of air; foralthough the entrance had been stopped up, it was not dark, and it wasperfectly easy to breathe. Cut in the rock, the roof of this passagewas lofty enough for a man to pass through comfortably on horseback--itwas arched; the ground was dry and covered with a fine sand of agolden-yellow.

  The count placed himself at the head of the little party and gave asignal to start. At first the passage descended rather abruptly, andfrom the noise the travellers heard over their heads, they understoodthat they were passing beneath the bed of the river; but gradually theground rose gently, and the passage ascended with innumerable windings,opening out every now and then into long galleries, which showed thatthe first owners of this hacienda, as prudent people, retained severalissues. At regular distances, they came to massive iron doors, whichthe count opened by touching a hidden spring, and which closed againafter the travellers.

  At length, after marching for about three-quarters of an hour in thisinextricable labyrinth, the count stopped before a massive oak door,entirely covered with thick plates of iron.

  "We have arrived," he said.

  "What do you mean?" the Canadian remarked, "Not at the hacienda, Isuppose?"

  "Yes, we are at the hacienda; and, more than that, we are at theentrance of the court leading to the corral."

  "That is impossible," said the Canadian.

  The count smiled and touched a spring. The door opened, and theCanadian repressed a cry of surprise as the count informed him theywere really in an inner court of the hacienda, which was at thismoment empty. The travellers entered, and then the gate was closed sohermetically, and so thoroughly formed a part of the wall through thestones with which it was covered, that in spite of the attention withwhich the adventurer examined it, it was impossible for him to discoverits exact position.

  "It is prodigious!" he muttered.

  "Not at all," the count replied, gently; "it is, on the contrary, avery ordinary affair, only due to the skill of the workman who wasintrusted with the job. But let us lose no more time here; Diego Lopez,convey the wounded man to the green room. Do not trouble yourself aboutyour horse, Senor Clary, it will be taken care of; come."

  "Hang it, the beast is valuable; and were it only for the sake of theperson from whom I obtained it, I should not like any accident tohappen to it."

  "As for that, be at your ease; your horse will be as well taken care ofas if it belonged to me."

  Completely reassured by this promise, the Canadian dismounted andaccompanied his host into the house. The count's unexpected arrivaland the mysterious way in which he entered the hacienda caused somesurprise to his people, who did not understand how he could have got inunseen by any of the sentries in a so carefully guarded fortress. Thereception the countess gave the adventurer was not merely polite, buteven affectionate, and very different from the somewhat dry manner inwhich she greeted him on the first occasion. Don Melchior was put tobed; and when
the count and the Canadian entered the green room, thedoctor of the hacienda was attending to him. The young man was asleep.

  "Well," the count asked, presently, "what do you think about yourpatient, doctor?"

  The doctor, or, to speak more correctly, the barber, who undertook thatduty, drew himself up, pursed his eyebrows, and replied gravely--

  "This young man is as well as his state allows him to be. I have bledhim copiously, which, I believe, will produce a favourable result; intwo days, if no serious accident occur, I can promise you that he willfeel but little of the numerous contusions he has received."

  "Thanks, doctor, for your good prognostics; attend to this young man asyou would to myself; I have the greatest wish to hear him talk as soonas possible, even if he cannot get about."

  "I will give you that satisfaction this very evening, Excellency,"the doctor answered. "When the patient awakes, his strength will havereturned sufficiently to allow him to answer any questions you maythink proper to ask him."

  The count and the adventurer exchanged a glance of satisfaction onhearing this. The doctor's prediction was realized, for shortlybefore sunset Don Melchior opened his eyes. At first he was somewhatastonished to find himself lying in bed and attended by a doctor; butwhen the latter had told him in a few words how, on being found halfdead, he was transported to the spot where he now was, his memory atonce returned, and he earnestly begged the doctor to inform the countthat as he was refreshed by the bleeding and rested by the sleep whichhad resulted from it, he earnestly requested to see his saviour inorder to thank him for the service he had done him, and to ask him tolet him return as soon as possible to the Hacienda del Barrio, wherematters of the greatest importance summoned him. The count and theCanadian proceeded straight to the young man, and after congratulatinghim on the fortunate change which had taken place in him in so short atime, pressed him to tell them all that had happened.

  Don Melchior, on recognizing the count, who during his visit tothe hacienda had displayed much interest in him, had no difficultyin recounting what had happened in the fullest detail, the more sobecause knowing the count to be on very intimate terms with Don AnibalSaldibar, he hoped that the Spanish gentleman might help him in theplan he meditated. The count was overwhelmed with grief on hearingthe misfortune which had happened to Dona Emilia, and immediatelysuspected that the daring abduction to which she had been a victim wasthe revenge of the Red Buffaloes, those constant foes of Don Anibal.But there was some mystery about this skilfully arranged and boldlyexecuted expedition. He suspected treachery, though it was impossibleto rest those suspicions on one person more than another. His anxietywas the greater because it was probable that the ravishers, after theirsnare was successful, had returned to the impenetrable deserts whichserved them as refuge, and where it was impossible to pursue them,especially owing to the state of confusion into which the country wasthrown by the decisive pronunciamiento of which Don Anibal was one ofthe principal chiefs, and was stripped of any hope of cooperation fromthe Spaniards. The situation was serious, and the count did not knowhow to escape from it.

  "Listen to me," said the Canadian, who during the young man's recitalhad not made the slightest remark. "The affair of which you aretalking, is beyond the pale of the common law. Spanish troops will beof no more use to you than Mexican. You have to deal with redskins, donot overlook that fact."

  "We know it perfectly well," the count interrupted; "but how does thatadvance us?"

  "Pardon me, Excellency, but I am acquainted with Indian habits. Duringthe fifteen years I have been traversing the desert in all directionsI have had time to study them, hence I believe myself in a position togive you good advice."

  "Speak, my friend, speak," the count exclaimed.

  "Explain yourself, caballero," the young man said imploringly.

  "One of two things will happen," the Canadian continued. "Either theredskins have seized Dona Emilia and her daughter in order to massacrethem, or they have carried them off for the purpose of obtaining aransom. In the first place they will not kill them for a week, becauseif it be a revenge, as you say, they desire to take on their enemies,they will sacrifice their victims in the presence of the whole nationassembled for a species of holiday, which will necessitate a great lossof time in convening the scattered tribes. In the second case, you havenothing to fear for the life of the ladies; and tomorrow, possiblytoday, they will send to the hacienda a messenger to settle the amountof ransom."

  "Hum! What you do us the honour of telling us is doubtless verysensible," the count remarked; "but I do not yet see the nature of theadvice you wish to give us."

  "Patience," the Canadian continued with a shake of his head, "myadvice is this. Tomorrow, at sunrise, I will start for the Haciendadel Barrio. If no Indian has appeared, after reporting the result ofmy embassy, and warning Don Anibal of what has happened, I will have atalk with my friend Moonshine. He knows the Indians as well as I do,perhaps better. Well, if he shares my opinion, we will both start onthe trail of the redskins, and they will be very cunning, I swear, ifwe do not discover them. That is my advice."

  "Yes," the count answered, "your reasoning is excellent, and the planyou propose is the only one feasible; but what can two men do aloneagainst several hundreds? You will be killed without any advantage."

  "Well, if you can hit on a better scheme, I shall not oppose it."

  "I do not say that I can. I merely believe that your idea, good inprinciple, is bad in its mode of execution; that is to say, where twomen would perish, ten or fifteen would infallibly succeed."

  "But where will you find that number of men to volunteer running suchrisks?"

  "I will be the first," Don Melchior said warmly.

  "And I the second," the count said more calmly.

  "You?" the Canadian remarked, with surprise.

  "Yes, I, my friend," he continued. "I have an old account to settlewith the redskins generally, and the Red Buffaloes particularly. Theyare my enemies also. The marks of their claws have been for a long timeimprinted on my flesh. Who knows whether I shall not avenge myself,while fancying that I am only avenging a friend?"

  "Hence," said Don Melchior, "we will start tomorrow at sunrise."

  "I alone," the Canadian answered; "your presence at the hacienda wouldbe more injurious than useful. Allow Don Anibal's grief time to calmbefore presenting yourself to him."

  The young man felt the force of the adventurer's reasoning, and hunghis head sadly, though without offering any objection.

  "I will accompany you, senor," said the count. "I trust that myintervention with Don Anibal will not prove in vain."

  "What are you thinking of, Excellency? In the present state of affairs,do you not fear being regarded as an enemy?"

  "Politics have nothing to do with the step I propose taking in yourcompany, senor. Moreover, do you not remember that I have sworn nevermore to serve the Spanish government? I am, therefore, free to act as Iplease."

  "I have no remarks to make to you on that subject, Excellency; perhapsit is better that it should be so; besides, you know better than I dowhat line of conduct you ought to hold."

  "Believe me, my friend, that the one I am adopting is the best."

  "Then," Don Melchior remarked, sadly, "you condemn me to remain here?"

  "Yes, till you receive fresh orders, my friend," the Canadian saidgood-humouredly; "but do not feel vexed, young gentleman; get wellagain as quickly as you can, and you shall enter on the campaignagainst the redskins in our company."

  "Do you promise me that?" the young man asked, with a start of joy.

  "I swear it, on the faith of Oliver Clary. You are too brave to be leftbehind."

  The young man thanked him warmly, and feeling easier in his mind,he fell back on his bed, and was soon fast asleep. On the morrow atsunrise the count and the Canadian entered the chamber of the woundedman to take leave of him, but they found him dressed and ready to start.

  "You know very well that you are not to accompany us."


  "It is not my intention either," he answered.

  "Still you are preparing to leave the hacienda."

  "Yes, and probably at the same time as yourself."

  "Hum!" said the Canadian, as he took a side glance at the young man,whose handsome masculine face, pale with suffering, had an expressionof energetic will. "You seem quite resolved," he said.

  "Whatever may happen, yes."

  There was a silence.

  "Very good," the Canadian continued; "wait for me here for six hours."

  "What are you going to do?" Don Melchior exclaimed.

  "On my return I will tell you: do you pledge me your word?"

  "I do."

  "Very good."

  Without adding a word, Oliver went out, making the count a sign tofollow him.