by Mayne Reid
CHAPTER FORTY NINE.
GASPAR MEANS MASQUERADING.
As they might truly anticipate, the gaucho's conjecture proves to becorrect. A road runs up to the summit of the hill on its western side;not direct, but somewhat zigzagged, in consequence of the slope on thatface being steeper, and the ground more rocky and uneven. Withal, it ismuch wider than that by which they ascended, the latter being only apath leading out to the uninhabited pampa: while the former is the mainthoroughfare between town and cemetery. It debouches on the levelsummit through a slight hollow, or defile, possibly due to the wear andtear of travel, continued through the long ages. Many a funeralprocession, and from the most remote time, may have wound its way upthat steep slope, passing between two cliffs, which, like the posternsof some grand gateway, mark the entrance to this elevated burial-place.
They do not go direct to the point where the town road enters thecemetery ground, but first back to the fig-tree to get their guns,ponchos, and some other articles left under it in their haste to put thehorses in a better place of security. Having recovered the weapons andchattels, they proceed in search of the road. It is easily found, asall the paths between the separate scaffolds run into it. The pointwhere it comes up out of the defile is but a short distance from thefig-tree; and on reaching this point they take their stand under thecliff; the one on the right hand side: for the moon being behind this,its shadow is projected more than half across the causeway of the road,so giving them a safe spot to stand in.
But they do not remain long upon their feet. Gaspar, observing a lowbench of rock at the cliff's base behind them, repeats a Spanish synonymof the old saw, "It's as cheap sitting as standing;" and with this dropsdown upon the ledge, the others doing likewise.
The spot thus chosen is in every way answerable for the object they havein view. They are right over the Indian town, and can see into itsstreets, so far as is permitted by the moon's declining light. Itcommands, moreover, a view of the road, for a good reach below, to thefirst angle of the zigzag, and no one could ascend beyond that pointwithout being seen by them so long as there is light; while there is nodanger of being themselves seen. One passing up, even when opposite theplace where they are seated, would not perceive them; since, in additionto the shadowing cliff, there is a thick scrub between them and thetravelled track, effectually screening them.
The advantages of the position are apparent to all; and, soon as settledin it, Cypriano once more calls upon Gaspar to make known the plan hehas hinted at.
Thus again challenged, the gaucho, who has meanwhile been doing his bestto trace out some course of action, responds, speaking in a slow,meditative way. For as yet he has but a vague idea of what ought to bedone.
"Well," he says, "there's but one plan I can think of as at all likelyto be successful. It may be, if dexterously managed; and I dare say wecan so manage it."
He pauses, seeming to deliberate within himself; which the two youthsperceiving, refrain to ask further questions, leaving him to continue athis own time.
Which at length he does, with the odd observation:--
"One of us must become an Indian."
"Become an Indian!" exclaims Ludwig. "What mean you by that, Gaspar?"
"I mean counterfeit a redskin; get disguised as one, and so steal intotheir town."
"Ah! now, I understand. But that will be a dangerous thing to do,Gaspar. If caught--"
"Of course it will be dangerous," interrupts the gaucho. "If caught,whoever of us it be, would no doubt get his skull crushed in by a_macana_, or maybe his body burnt over a slow fire. But as you seeeverything's dangerous for us now, one may as well risk that danger asany other. As to counterfeiting an Indian, I propose taking the partmyself; and I should be able to play it pretty well, having, as you bothknow, had some experience in that line. It was by a trick of the samesort I got off from the Guaycurus when I was their prisoner up thePilcomayo; and if I hadn't done it neatly, you shouldn't now see mehere."
"How did you manage it?" queries Ludwig mechanically, or rather, to knowhow he intended doing it now.
"Well, I borrowed the costume of an ugly savage, who was set to keepguard over me, having first taken a loan of his hardwood club. The clubI returned to him, in a way he wouldn't have wished had he been awake.But he was silly enough to go to sleep, and was sleeping when I tookit--ah! and slept on after I returned it--ever after. His dress I kept,and wore for more than a week--in short, till I got back to Paraguay,for I was over a week on the road. It fitted me well; so well, thatwith some colouring stuff I found in the fellow's pouch, I was able topaint Indian, pass among the tents of the Guaycurus, and through a crowdof the savages themselves, without one of them suspecting the trick. Inthat way I slipped out of their camp and off. So, by something of thesame I may be able to get the dear little _nina_ out of this town of theTovas."
"Oh! do it, Gaspar!" exclaims Cypriano; "do that, and all I have will beyours."
"Yes! all we both have," adds Ludwig; "all there is at the _estancia_.But rescue sister, and I'm sure my mother will make you welcome toeverything."
"_Ta-ta_!" returns the gaucho, in a tone of reproach at being thusbargained with; gentle, however, as he knows it is from their anxietyabout Francesca. "Why, _hijos mios_, what are you speaking of?Promises to me,--a bribe for but doing my duty! 'Twill be a far daybefore Gaspar Mendez will need that for service done to either friend orrelative of his dear dead master--ay, to the laying down of my life._Carramba_! are we not all embarked in the same boat, to swim or sinktogether? But we sha'n't sink yet; not one of us. No; we shall swimout of this sea of troubles, and triumphantly. Cease despairing, then;for after all there mayn't be so much danger. Though Naraguana be dead,there's one above him, above all, up there in Heaven, who will notforsake us in this our extremity. Let us kneel and pray to Him."
And they do kneel; Ludwig, as called upon by Gaspar repeating the Lord'sprayer, with a solemnity befitting the occasion.