Les fils de la tortue. English

by Gustave Aimard

  CHAPTER X.

  INSIDE THE TENT.

  When the alarm was given by the sentry, Diego, usually so prompt to goand meet danger, rose cautiously, and without making a single gesturewhich could reveal any anxiety, stood leaning on his rifle with a smileon his lips. So soon as the Spaniards had disappeared in the tent, Leonturned to him with an inquiring glance, which the latter only repliedto by a very careless nod.

  "Did you know, then, that we should meet Don Pedro?"

  "I presumed so," Diego replied, laconically.

  "In truth, for some days past, brother," said Leon, "things haveoccurred of which you keep the secret to yourself."

  "What are they?"

  "In the first place, this journey which you consented to make with theSoto-Mayor family as far as Valdivia."

  "What, you complain of it, and your beauty is with you?"

  "Certainly not; but after all, we have nothing to do at Valdivia."

  "You are right, if you are referring to our commercial trips; but asregards my personal interests," the half-breed added, his large eyesflashing in the darkness, "the case is very different."

  "What do you mean?"

  "That we must go there because we are expected there. However, if youwish to know more, come, and you will see that the two days I spent inValparaiso were put to good purpose."

  And leading his friend, and warning him to be silent, he cautiouslypassed to the other side of the tent. On reaching that point, Diego laydown on the ground, invited Leon to imitate him, and gently raising acorner of the tent, he listened to what was being said inside.

  "We are doing wrong," said Leon.

  "Silence," the other replied, "and listen."

  The captain obeyed, and looked at the persons who were conversing,while not losing one of the words which they interchanged.

  "I cannot imagine," said Don Juan, "how it is that you, whom I fanciedat Santiago, are now only a few leagues from Talca."

  "It is because a good many strange things have happened since myarrival in that city."

  "What are they?" asked Inez, whose curiosity was aroused.

  "Speak, Don Pedro, I implore you," said Don Juan in his turn.

  "I will do so, general. The Chilian government, which, as you areaware, is unable to cope with the incessant invasions of the AraucanoIndians, reluctantly agreed to treat with them, and supply themannually with necessaries, such as corn, tools, and weapons whichthey might have need of. At various times, however, it attempted toshake off this disgraceful yoke; and the Indians, beaten and dispersedin various encounters, appeared to comprehend how ridiculous theseclaims were, and have refrained, during the last two years, fromclaiming the tribute, and making incursions into the territory of therepublic. Hence, what was our astonishment when, four days ago, wesaw arrive at Santiago a dozen Indian bravos in their war paint, whomarched haughtily in Indian file, and proceeded with the silence thatcharacterizes them toward the Government Palace."

  "'What do you want?' the officer of the guard asked them at the momentwhen they passed through the gates."

  "'Art thou a chief?' one of the Indians replied, who appeared toexercise a certain authority over the rest."

  "'Yes,' the officer replied, without hesitation."

  "'Maitai,' said the Indian, 'tell our great white father that hisIndian sons of the Pere Mapou have held a great deliberation roundthe council fire, at the end of which they resolved to send him adeputation of twelve warriors, chosen from the twelve great Moluchonations, in order that the dissensions which have, up to this day,reigned between our great white father and his Indian sons may beeternally extinguished, and the war hatchet buried so deeply in theearth that it can never be found again.'"

  "The officer then informed the President of the Republic of the strangevisitors who had arrived; and, as the senate was assembled, orders wereat once given to introduce the Indians with all the respect due totheir ambassadorial quality, and the lofty mission with which they wereentrusted."

  "When the twelve envoys entered the Senate Hall, which was splendidlydecorated and filled with officers dressed in magnificent uniforms,they did not appear at all dazzled by the sight of this unexpectedpomp; they slowly advanced towards the foot of the dais on which thePresident of the Republic was standing to receive them, and afterbowing they folded their arms on their chests and waited."

  "'My Indian sons are welcome,' the President said, in a soft andinsinuating voice."

  "'My father is a great chief,' the Indian who had hitherto spokenreplied. 'Guatechu will protect him because he is good.'"

  "The President bowed his thanks."

  "'What do my Indian sons desire?'" he asked.

  "'The Ulmens,' the orator resumed, 'assembled in the seventh moon ofthis year round the council fire and asked themselves the followingquestions:--'"

  "'Why are not our white fathers satisfied with the possession of thelands which we left to them on the seashore?'"

  "'Why do they refuse to pay us the tribute they consented to, as theyhave done up to this day?'"

  "'Why, instead of kindly treating the Indians whom they capture, dothey use them cruelly?'"

  "'Why, lastly, do they wish to compel the sons of Bheman to renouncethe faith of their fathers?'"

  "You can understand," Don Pedro continued, "the amazement produced inthe minds of the senate by the Indian's speech, which demanded theestablishment of the Chilian frontiers, the payment of the impost, andthe liberation of the plundering and vagabond Indians. Only one replywas possible, a pure and simple refusal. This was given; but then theIndian, whose stoicism had not failed him for a single instant, drew,without a word, a packet from under his poncho, and laid it on the daisat the President's feet. It was a bundle of arrows, whose points weredipped in blood, and which were fastened together by a cascabel's skin."

  "Then, taking advantage of the general stupor, the ambassadorswithdrew, and when, a quarter of an hour later, the President orderedthem to be pursued, it was too late; they appeared to have becomesuddenly invisible."

  "Why, it is war," the old general suddenly interrupted, who had beenlistening with sustained attention to Don Pedro's narrative; "war withthe Indians."

  "Yes; a war such as they carry on, without truce or mercy, and which,incredible to relate, has already begun."

  "What?" said Don Juan.

  "Alas! yes; two hours after the strange disappearance of the Indians, acourier reached Santiago at full gallop, announcing that the Araucanos,more than fifty thousand in number, had crossed the Bio Bio, and werefiring and destroying all the villages up to the gates of Valdivia,while another band had arrived under the very walls of Ports Araucosand Incapel."

  "On hearing this news, the President of the Republic offered me thecommand of the province of Valdivia, while ordering me at the same timeto explore the neighbourhood of Talca. I eagerly accepted, and set outwith the rank of general, following at only a few hours' interval yourson Don Juan, who has received orders to defend Incapel."

  "What, Don Juan!" the senorita Soto-Mayor interrupted.

  "Yes, your son, madam, or, if you prefer it, Lieutenant-Colonel DonJuan, for lie, too, has received the reward due to his merit; but,now that I think of it, he must have passed in the vicinity, and Iam surprised that you have not seen him, for as he was aware of yourdeparture for Valdivia, he hoped like myself, to meet you on the road."

  "It is probable," the old gentleman remarked, "that he passed at adistance during one of your night halts; and yet we have not left theusual road."

  "Oh," said Inez, "I am very sorry that my brother was unable to embraceus before proceeding to his post."

  "I regret it, too, my child; but he did well in avoiding a meeting withus, if the time he might have given us could be employed in makingspeed. The duty of a soldier is superior to family joys. As for you,Don Pedro, though the news you have brought us is afflicting to theheart of a Chilian, I thank you for having come to inform me, and Iimplore you to continue your journey, while we make si
ncere vows forthe success of your arms."

  "I thank you, general, but I can remain with you without anyinconvenience. As I told you, I am marching at easy stages, in order toassure myself of the state of the roads as far as Valdivia, and if youintend to continue your journey as far as that town, I will ask yourpermission to join your party with my men."

  "Most willingly. My plan is most assuredly to go to Valdivia, and as weare close to Talca, it would be folly to turn back."

  "Pardon me, general, if I insist, but it is because I have not yet toldyou all you ought to know."

  And Don Pedro seemed to hesitate before proceeding.

  "Speak, speak," the general and his wife said in chorus; "what is it?"

  "If the reports which have reached Santiago are correct, the Indianshave plundered and burnt your fine haciendas between the Bio Bio andthe Valdivia."

  "It is the fortune of war," Don Juan answered in a hollow voice; "andif I have only that misfortune to deplore, I shall console myself."

  "It is also stated," Don Pedro continued, anxious to finish the sadstory he was telling, "that your brother Don Luis has been utterlyruined by a band of Indian bravos, who suddenly attacked his estateswith fire and sword, and devastated them."

  General Soto-Mayor had remained motionless on hearing of the misfortunewhich personally affected him, but on learning that which had assailedhis brother, he could not restrain the indignation which he feltagainst those of whom he was the victim.

  "Oh, these villains! these villains!" he exclaimed, stamping his footpassionately; "will they never be weary of persecuting my unhappyfamily? Oh, you know not, my children, what this accursed race is,these Indians! Oh, why cannot I crush to the last of these impiouscowards who have done me so much injury? Don Pedro, fight them, makethem perish in the most cruel tortures, and bid my son remember thatthe Soto-Mayors have ever been the implacable foes of these obstinatedemons; let him avenge his family, since the sword of his father is nowin his hands."

  The old man was suffering from an agitation impossible to describe, hisface was covered with a sallow pallor, and a nervous tremor agitatedhis limbs. The remembrance of all the hatreds of former days wasrekindled in his heart. The ladies, terrified at the state in which hewas, strove to calm him.

  "Oh, you are right," Don Juan said, a moment later; "I did wrong tobreak out thus in empty words, for throughout the wide republic ofChili there will be no want of arms to crush my enemies under theirblows, and since a Soto-Mayor is fighting, I ought rather to blessheaven for not allowing me to die ere I had seen the triumph of myrace. My brother has recovered, you say, Don Pedro; hence it is morethan ever my duty to go to him and console him, and offer him one halfof what is left to me. I am still rich enough to relieve one of myfamily."

  * * * * *

  "Come," Diego said at this moment to Leon, making him a sign to rise;"you have heard enough."

  "Oh!" the young man exclaimed, sorrowfully, "all this is frightful."

  "Why so?" the half-breed said. "As the old man remarked, it is thefortune of war."

  "Oh, ill-fated family!"

  "To which do you allude?--to mine or that man's? Yes;" he added, with aterrible accent, "unhappy is the family which, born to command millionsof men, finds itself reduced to wander about without shelter or friendamong his enemies. Is that what you are pitying, brother?"

  "Forgive me, Diego. I swore to help your vengeance because it is just,so dispose of me."

  "Good!"

  "But why stoop so low as to wish to torture women?" Leon continued;"would the noble lion murder timid hares? Avenge yourselves on men,face to face, chest to chest, but not on women."

  "Leon, the woman who loves my brother is my sister, and she shall behappy and respected, because in exchange my brother has left me atliberty to dispose of the others. Remember that a Tahi-Mari was thebrother of Mikaa, and that the mistress of Don Ruiz de Soto-Mayor, wasthe wife of a Tahi-Mari."

  "Enough, brother; I remember it."

  The two men had returned to the middle of the camp, and were nowwalking side by side; a deep silence had followed the last words ofthe smuggler captain. It was hardly nine in the evening; the night wascalm; thousands of stars glittered in the azure of the celestial vault,spreading over the peaks of the mountains which bordered the horizon avaporous light; the moon shone brilliantly, and a light breeze made theleaves of the large palm trees that surrounded the camp rustle.

  Suddenly a shrill whistle traversed the air: Diego startled, stretchedout his head, and with his eyes fixed on the distance, listenedattentively.

  "It is a coral snake!" Leon exclaimed, as he looked round him withinstinctive terror.

  A few seconds passed and another whistle was heard in the samedirection, but nearer.

  "It is a coral snake, I tell you," Leon repeated.

  "Silence!" said Diego, seizing his arm.

  And taking from his lips the cigarette which he was smoking, thehalf-breed shook off the ash, and threw it in the air, where itdescribed a luminous parabola; then he turned to his friend.

  "Come with me," he said to him.

  "Where to?"

  "There," Diego replied, pointing to the wood, in front of which thecamp was pitched.

  "What to do?"

  "You will learn."

  "But they?" Leon said, hesitatingly, as he pointed to the tent in whichthe Soto-Mayor family was assembled.

  "Be at rest."

  "But really--"

  "The moment has arrived, brother," Diego said, fixing his flashing eyeson the young man; "I have need of you."

  "In that case I am ready."

  "Thanks, brother."

  And the two smugglers, forcing a passage through the trunks and baleswhich formed the outer wall of the camp, disappeared unseen by thesentry, and buried themselves in the tall grass.