CHAPTER XI.
THE JOURNEY.
After his interview with Don Tadeo, Valentine had scarcely taken timeto bid the young count farewell, but had instantly departed, followedby Trangoil-Lanec and his inseparable Newfoundland dog.
The morning on which the sanguinary battle we have described was foughtin the Canyon del Rio Seco, Valentine and Trangoil-Lanec were marchingside by side, followed closely by Caesar. The two men were talkingwhile they cracked a biscuit, which they washed down from time to timewith a little smilax water, contained in a gourd, which hung at thegirdle of Trangoil-Lanec.
"Why chief," said Valentine, laughing, "you drive me to despair withyour indifference."
"What does my brother mean?" the astonished Indian said.
"Caramba! We are traversing the most ravishing landscape in the world,and you pay no more attention to all these beauties than to the granitemasses yonder in the horizon."
"My brother is young." Trangoil-Lanec observed: "he is an enthusiast."
"I do not know whether I am an enthusiast or not," replied the youngman, warmly; "I only know this--that nature is magnificent."
"Yes," said the chief, solemnly, "Pillian is great; it is he who madeall things."
"God, you mean, chief; but that is all one; our thought is the same,and we won't quarrel about a name."
"In my brother's island," the Indian asked curiously, "are there nomountains and trees?"
"I have already told you, chief, more than once that my country is notan island, but a land as large as this; there is no want of trees,thank God! There are even a great many, and as to mountains, we havesome lofty ones, Montmartre among the rest."
"Hum," said the Indian, not understanding.
"Yes!" Valentine resumed, "we have mountains, but compared to thesethey are but little hills."
"My land is the most beautiful in the world," the Indian repliedproudly. "Why do the palefaces wish to dispossess us of it."
"There is a great deal of truth in what you say, chief."
"Good!" said the chief; "all men cannot be born in my country."
"That is true, and that is why I was born somewhere else."
Caesar at this moment growled surlily.
"What is the matter, old fellow?" said Valentine.
Trangoil-Lanec remarked quietly--
"The dog has scented an Aucas."
So it was, for scarcely had he spoken, when an Indian horseman appearedat the turning of the road. He advanced at full gallop towards the twomen, whom he saluted, and went on his way.
Shortly afterwards the travellers arrived, almost without being awareof it, at the entrance of the village.
"So now, I suppose, we are at San Miguel?" remarked Valentine.
"Yes," the other replied.
"And is it your opinion that Dona Rosario is no longer here?"
"No," said the Indian, shaking his head. "Let my brother look aroundhim."
"Well," said the young man, turning his eyes in all directions, "I seenothing."
"If the prisoner were here, my brother would see warriors and horses;the village would be alive."
"Corbleu!" thought Valentine; "these savages are wonderful men; theysee everything, they divine everything. Chief," he added, "you arewise; tell me, I beg of you, who taught you all these things."
The Indian stopped; with a majestic gesture he indicated the horizon tothe young man, and said, in a voice the solemn accent of which made himstart--
"Brother, it was the desert.
"Yes," the Frenchman replied, convinced by these few words; "for it isthere alone that man sees God face to face."
They now entered the village, and, as Trangoil-Lanec had said, itseemed deserted. They saw a few sick persons, who, reclining uponsheepskins, were complaining lamemtably.
"Caramba!" said Valentine, much disappointed, "you have guessed sotruly, Chief, that there are even no dogs to bite our heels."
All at once Caesar sprang forward barking, and, stopping in front ofan isolated hut, began to munch the ground with his claws, utteringfurious cries.
The two men ran hastily towards the hut, and Caesar continued hishowlings.
The Pearl of the Andes: A Tale of Love and Adventure Page 11