by Mayne Reid
CHAPTER TWELVE.
SKULKING BACK.
While the gaucho and his silent companion were still in halt by the edgeof the _sumac_ wood, another horseman could be seen approaching theplace, but on the opposite side of the stream, riding direct down to theford. Descried at any distance, his garb, with the caparison of hishorse--the full gaucho panoply of bitted bridle, breast-plate, _recado_,and _caronilla_--would tell he is not an Indian. Nor is he; since thisthird traveller, so early on the road, is Rufino Valdez. Ascommissioner to the Tovas tribe, he has executed the commission withwhich he was entrusted, with something besides; and is now on return tomake report to his master, El Supremo, leaving the latter to take suchother steps as may deem desirable.
The _vaqueano_ has passed the preceding night with the Indians at theircamp, leaving it long before daybreak, though Aguara, for certainreasons, very much wished him to return with them to their town, andproposed it. A proposal, for reasons of his own, the cunning Paraguayandeclined, giving excuses that but ill satisfied the young cacique, andwhich he rather reluctantly accepted. He could not, however, wellrefuse to let Valdez go his way. The man was not a prisoner moreover,his promise to be soon back, as the bearer of rich presents, was anargument irresistible; and influenced by this, more than aught else,Aguara gave him permission to depart.
The young chief's reasons for wishing to detain him were of a kindaltogether personal. Much as he likes the captive he is carrying withhim, he would rather she had been made captive by other means, and in aless violent manner. And he is now returning to his tribe, not sotriumphantly, but with some apprehension as to how he will be receivedby the elders. What will they say when the truth is told them,--all thedetails of the red tragedy just enacted? He would lay the blame, wheremost part of it properly belongs, on the shoulders of the Paraguayan,and, indeed, intends doing so. But he would rather have the latter withhim to meet the storm, should there be such, by explaining in his ownway, why he killed the other white man. For Valdez had already saidsomething to them of an old hostility between himself and thehunter-naturalist, knowing that the Tovas, as well as other ChacoIndians, acknowledge the rights of the _vendetta_.
But just for the reason Aguara desires to have him along with him, isthe _vaqueano_ inclined to die opposite course; in truth, determinedupon it. Not for the world would he now return to the Tovas town. Hehas too much intelligence for that, or too great regard for his safety--his very life, which he believes, and with good cause, would be morethan risked, were he again to show himself among a people whosehospitality he has so outraged. For he knows he as done this, and thatthere will surely be that storm of which the young cacique isapprehensive--a very tempest of indignation among the elders and friendsof the deceased Naraguana, when they hear of the fate which has befallenthe harmless stranger, so long living under their late chiefsprotection. Therefore, notwithstanding the many promises he has made,not the slightest thought of performing any of them, or even going backon that trail, has Rufino Valdez. Instead, as he rides down the ford ofthe stream he is thinking to himself, it will be the last time he willhave to wade across it, gleeful at the thought of having so wellsucceeded in what brought him over it at all. Pondering on somethingbesides, another deed of infamy yet to be done, but for which he willnot have to come so far up the Pilcomayo.
In spite of his self-gratulation, and the gleams of a joy almostSatanic, which now and then light up his dark sinister countenance, heis not without some apprehensions; this is made manifest by hisbehaviour as he rides along. Although making what haste he can, he doesnot rush on in a reckless or careless manner. On the contrary, with duecaution, at every turn of the path, stopping and making survey of eachnew reach before entering upon it. This he did, as the ford opened tohis view, keeping under cover of the bushes, till assured there was noone there; then, striking out into the open ground, and riding rapidlyfor it. And while wading across the stream, his eyes are not upon thewater, but sweeping the bank up and down with glances of keen scrutiny.
As he sees no one there, nor the sign of anyone having been--for it isnot yet daylight, and too dark for him to note the tracks of Gaspar'shorse--he says with a satisfied air, "They're not likely to be comingafter the missing pair at so early an hour. Besides, it's too soon.They'll hardly be setting them down as lost till late last night, and socouldn't have tracked them on here yet."
Riding up out of the water, he once more draws rein by its edge, andsits regarding the _sumac_ grove with an expression in his eyesstrangely repulsive.
"I've half a mind to go up in there," he mutters, "and see how thingsstand. I wasn't altogether satisfied with the way we left them, andthere's just a possibility he may be still alive. The girl gave so muchtrouble in getting them parted, I couldn't be quite sure of havingkilled him outright. If not, he might manage to crawl away, or theycoming after in search of him--_Carrai_! I'll make sure now. It canonly delay me a matter of ten minutes, and," he adds glancing up at theblade of his spear, "if need be, another thrust of this."
Soon as forming his devilish resolve, the assassin gives his horse aprick of the spur, and passes on towards the _sumac_ grove, entering atthe same place as before, like a tiger skulking back to the quarry ithas killed, and been chased away from.
Once inside the thicket, he proceeds along the _tapir_ path, groping hisway in the darkness. But he remembers it well, as well he may; andwithout going astray arrives at a spot he has still better reason torecall; that where, but a little more than twelve hours before, hesupposes himself to have committed murder! Delayed along the narrowtortuous track, some time has elapsed since his entering among the_sumacs_. Only a short while, but long enough to give him a clearerlight, for the day has meanwhile dawned, and the place is less shadowed,for it is an open spot where the sanguinary struggle took place.
It is sufficiently clear for him, without dismounting, to distinguishobjects on the ground, and note, which at a glance he does, that one heexpected to see is not to be seen. No murdered man there; no body,living or dead!