by Mayne Reid
CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT.
BREAKING BAD NEWS.
Caspar has been mistaken in supposing the other two asleep. One of themis--Ludwig, who sleeps soundly, and to all appearance peacefully. Notthat he is indifferent to the seriousness of the situation, or lessanxious about the upshot, than Cypriano. He but slumbers, because he isnaturally of a more somnolent habit than his cousin, as also, being theweaker of the two, from the effects of a journey so long sustained, andtravelling at such a pace. Moreover, he is not even yet quite recoveredfrom the damage done him by the gymnoti; their electricity still actingon his nervous system, and producing a certain lassitude.
There is yet another reason why Ludwig has let himself go to sleep--oneof a moral nature. As is known, he still adheres to his belief in thefidelity of Naraguana, and, so believing, is least of them allapprehensive about the result. At this moment he may be dreaming of theold _cacique_, though little dreams he that his dead body is so near!
Altogether different is it with Cypriano. This night there is no sleepfor him, nor does he think of taking any. Though he lay down alongsidehis cousin, wrapping himself in his poncho, he did not long remainrecumbent. Instead, soon starting to his feet again, he has been pacingto and fro under the fig-tree, wondering where Gaspar has gone. For, asknown, the gaucho had slipped off without making noise, or saying word.
Missing him, the young Paraguayan would call out his name. But he fearsto raise his voice, lest it reach other ears than those for which it wasintended. Reflecting, moreover, that Gaspar is pretty sure to have somegood reason for absenting himself, and that his absence will not likelybe for long, he awaits his return in silence. Therefore, when thegaucho in coming back draws nigh to the fig-tree, he sees a form withinthe periphery of its shadow, that of Cypriano, standing ready to receivehim. The latter first speaks, asking: "Where have you been, Gaspar?"
"Oh! only taking a turn among the tombs."
"And you've seen something among them to make you uneasy?"
"Why do you say that, Senorito?"
"Because I can see it in your countenance." The gaucho, as heapproaches, has the moon full upon his face, and by her light the otherhas observed the troubled look.
"What is it?" the youth goes on to ask, in a tone of eager anxiety, allthe more from seeing that the other hesitates to give the explanation."You've discovered something--a new danger threatens us? Come, Gaspar,you may as well tell me of it at once."
"I intend telling you, _hijo mio_. I was only waiting till we were allthree together. For now, I think, we'll have to rouse Master Ludwig.You've conjectured aright, as I'm sorry to say. I _have_ seen somethingthat's not as we would wish it. Still, it may not be so bad as I'vebeen making it."
Notwithstanding this hopeful proviso, Cypriano is himself now reallyalarmed; and, impatient to learn what the new danger is, he stoops downover his cousin, takes hold of his arm, and shakes him out of hisslumbers.
Ludwig, starting to his feet, confusedly inquires why he has beendisturbed. Then Gaspar, coming close to them, so that he need not speakin a loud voice, gives an account of what he has discovered, with hisown views relating to it.
As he himself did, both the boys at once comprehend the changedsituation, with a like keen sense of the heightened danger to resultfrom it. Naraguana's death has extinguished all hope of help from him.It may be both the cause and forecast of their own!
Their prospects are now gloomy indeed; but they do not idly dwell onthem, or give way to utter despondency. That would be unavailing;besides, there is no time for it. Something must be done to meet thealtered circumstances. But what? A question to which none of themmakes an immediate answer, since none can.
For awhile all three stand silent, considering. Only a short while,when Gaspar is again stirred to activity, by reflecting that even nowthey are not safe. One of their horses, frightened by an owl that hasflapped its wings close to its face, has snorted, striking the hardground with his hoof, and making a noise that reverberates throughoutthe cemetery, echoing among the scaffolds. What if he should set toneighing, in answer to that which now and then comes up from the townbelow? The thing is too probable, and the result manifest. A singleneigh might betray them; for what would horses be doing up there uponthe sacred hill? So would any Indian ask who should chance to hear it.
"We must muffle our animals," says Caspar. "And what's more, take themback to the other side, where we came up. There we can better concealthem among the bushes. Besides, if it should come to our being underthe necessity of a speedy retreat, we'll be nearer to the back-track,and have a fairer chance of getting off. Senoritos! get your jergas,and wrap them round your horses' heads."
He sets the example by so disposing of his own; and, accustomed to quickaction in matters of the kind, all three soon have their animals"tapado." Then, leading them across to where the path ascends on theopposite side, they place them under cover of some thick bushes growingnear by, Caspar saying:
"They'll be safe enough here, I take it; at all events till the morning.Then we may move them elsewhere, and if we're to have a run for it,remember, _hijos mios_, 'twill be a race for our lives. There's noNaraguana now to stand between us and that young wolf, who I fear hasgot the dear little lamb in his clutches, so fast we'll have great--"
The effect of his words are such, upon those listening to them, that hesuddenly interrupts himself in what he was about to say, and in changedtone continues: "_Carramba_! we'll rescue her yet, Naraguana, or noNaraguana. It can be done without him, and I think I know the way."
In saying so, Caspar is practising a slight deception, his object beingto cheer his young companions, over whom his last speech seemed to castthe gloom of despair. For he has as yet thought of no way, norconceived any definite plan of action. When asked by Cypriano toexplain himself, he is silent; and appealed to, he answers by evasion.The truth is, that up to the instant of his finding Naraguana's bodyupon the scaffold, he too had been trusting all to what the latter woulddo for them; and no more than Ludwig could he believe the good old chiefto have turned traitor to the palefaced friend so long under hisprotection, much less connived at his assassination. Now, the gauchoknows he has had no hand either in the murder of his master, or theabduction of that master's daughter. These events must have occurredsubsequent to his death, and, while they were in the act of occurrence,Naraguana was sleeping his last sleep under his plumed _manta_ upon thatelevated platform. His son and successor--for Gaspar doubts not thatAguara has succeeded him in the chieftainship--is answerable for thedeed of double crime, whoever may have been his aiders and abettors.
Of course, this makes the case all the more difficult to deal with,since the new _cacique_, by this time established in full plenitude ofpower, will have it all his own way, and can carry things with a highhand, as he most surely will. To make appeal to him for the restitutionof the captive would be manifestly idle, like asking a tiger tosurrender the prey it holds between its teeth or in its claws. Thegaucho has no thought of so appealing, any more than either of theothers. And no more than they has he formed a plan of future action.Only now, after their disposal of the horses, is his brain busy in theconception of some scheme suited to the changed circumstances; andhence, on Cypriano asking him to tell the way he knew of, he but repliesevasively, saying:
"Be patient, Senorito! Wait till we've got things a little snug, thenI'll take pleasure in telling you. But we mustn't remain here. On theother side of this queer cemetery, where the road runs down to the_tolderia_--as I've no doubt there is such--that will be the place forus to spend the night in. There we can see and hear what passes on theplain, and should any one stray up we'll be warned of it, either by oureyes or ears, in good time to get out of their way. So let us crossover. And we must step silently," he adds, pointing to the _cacique's_scaffold tomb, "lest we disturb the sleep of old Naraguana, up yonder."
With this facetious remark, made partly in the indulgence of his usualhumour, but as much to
raise the spirits of his young companions, hestrides off among the odd structures, making direct for the other sideof the cemetery, Ludwig and Cypriano following in single file.