by Mayne Reid
CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR.
AN UNLOOKED-FOR DELIVERER.
Though the dialogue between Nacena and Shebotha's slave was in the Tovastongue, she who has overheard them inside the hut has sufficientacquaintance with it to make out that the Indian girl is seeking aninterview with herself. But for what purpose, she has not the mostdistant idea, and cannot conceive why it should specially be sought atthat strange hour, when everybody else is abed. She knows Nacena byname, as by sight; having on many occasions seen her at the old_tolderia_. But the two have never had acquaintance, nor heldconversation; the sister of Kaolin always seeming shy with her, andnever visiting the _estancia_, as did the other girls of the tribe.More than this, she remembers that whenever of late she by chance metthe savage maiden, she had observed a scowl upon the latter's face,which she could not help fancying was meant for herself. Nor had herfancy been astray; since in reality for her was that black look. Thoughfor what reason Francesca could not tell, having never that she couldthink of done aught that should give offence to Kaolin's sister.Besides, was not Kaolin himself the bosom friend of her brother Ludwig?Still, recalling that scowl so often seen upon Nacena's countenance--with a suspicion, purely intuitive, of what may have caused it--notstrange she should deem the visit of the Indian girl boding no good toher, but instead something of ill.
As the latter steps inside the _toldo_, however, and the light fallsupon her face, the captive can there see no sign of malice, nor token ofhostility. Instead, it is lit up by a smile which seems rather to speakof friendship and protection. And, in truth, such are among thesentiments now moving the Indian girl to action. At the prospect ofbeing for ever rid of a rival she sees so helpless, the feeling ofjealousy has passed away out of her heart, as its frown from her face,and she approaches the captive with the air of one who has both the wishand the power to give liberty. She is the first to speak, askingabruptly--
"Do you wish to be free?"
"Why do you ask that?" is the interrogative rejoinder, in a tonedistrustful. For that smile may be but to deceive.
"Because Nacena has it in her power to give you freedom if you desireit."
"Desire it!" exclaims the captive. "Nacena is but mocking me," sheadds, involuntarily falling into the figurative mode of speech peculiarto the American Indian. "Indeed, I do desire it. But how could Nacenaset me at liberty?"
"By taking the paleface to her people."
"They are far away--hundreds of miles. Would Nacena herself take me tothem?"
"No. That is not needed. The paleface is mistaken. Her friends arenot far away, but near. They wait for her to come out to them."
The captive gives a start of surprise, the light of hope and joy, longabsent from her eyes, rekindling in them, as another light breaks uponher.
"Of whom does Nacena speak?"
"Of your brother the fair-haired youth, your cousin the dark Paraguayan,and the gaucho who has guided them hither. All three are close to the_tolderia_, on the other side of the hill--as I've said, expecting you.Nacena has spoken with them, and promised she will conduct you to wherethey are. White sister!" she adds, in a tone of unmistakeablesincerity, at the same time drawing closer to the captive, and tenderlytaking her by the hand, "do not show distrust, but let Nacena keep herword. She will restore you to your friends, your brother; ah! to onewho waits for you with anxiety keener than all!"
At the last words the captive bends upon her would-be deliverer abewildered, wondering look. Is it possible Nacena has knowledge of hertenderest secret? It must be so; but how can she have learnt it?Surely Cypriano--whom she says she has seen outside and spoken with--surely, he could not have revealed it; would not! Francesca forgetsthat the Indian girl was for years a near neighbour to her father's_estancia_; and though never visiting there, with the keen intuition ofher race was like enough to have learnt, that the relationship betweenher cousin and herself had something in it beyond mere cousinlyaffection.
While she is still cogitating as to how Nacena could have come to thisknowledge, and wondering the while, the latter bleaks in upon herwonderment, and once more urges her to flight, again speaking of him whois near and dear, so anxiously expecting her.
It needs not such pressing appeal. For the captive girl, her surpriseonce past, is but too willing to embrace the opportunity so unexpectedlyoffered, and by one so unlikely to offer it. Therefore, without furtherhesitation, she signifies acceptance, saying, "I will trust you, Nacena.You have called me your white sister, and I believe you sincere. Youwould not speak so if you meant me harm. Take me where you will; I amready to go with you."
Saying which, she holds out her hand, as if offering to be led.
The Indian girl taking it, turns her face for the door, and is about tostep towards it, when she remembers the watcher without; and obstructionshe had for the time forgotten. Will he bar their exit? A cloud comesover her brow, as she asks herself the question; for, mentally answeringit, she thinks he most probably will.
The other observing her hesitation, and quite comprehending it, makes noinquiry about the cause. That is already declared in the dialoguelately overheard by her; and as he outside is likely to be listening,the two now take counsel together, speaking in whispers.
Nacena, from a better knowledge of the situation, is of course the chiefadviser, and it ends in her determining to show a bold front, and passout as if already armed with Shebotha's permission. If interrupted,they can then make a rush for it. In short, after a hurriedconsultation, they can think of no other way, much less a better one.For by the shuffling of footsteps, and a wheezing noise--Shebotha'sslave being afflicted with asthma--they can tell that he is close by theentrance.
Soon as resolved how to act, the Indian girl, still holding the captiveby the hand, leads her on to the door; and, passing over the thresholdside by side, they present themselves to the sentry, Nacena saying:
"In going in I forgot to tell you my errand from Mam Shebotha. She bademe bring the paleface to where she is herself. You see, I am takingher."
"You cannot take her out of the _toldo_," rejoins the man in a tone ofdogged denial. "You must not; Shebotha would kill me if I permittedit."
"But I have Shebotha's command to do so."
"How am I to know that?"
"You forget what I have said, and what I've given you."
She points to the strange rosary, which he had taken from her, and stillretains--possibly as a voucher against any mistake that may arise.
"No, I don't," he rejoins, holding the string up before her eyes, andshaking it till the teeth rattle. "There it is; but withal, I can'tallow her, the paleface, to go with you. It might be as much as my lifeis worth."
"But what is your life worth without liberty?"
It is not Nacena who puts this question, but the paleface herself;speaking to him in her native tongue, as his. He gives a sudden starton hearing it, and regards the young girl with a stare of astonishment,rubbing his eyes as though just awakened from a long-continued sleep.
"Ah--eh!" he exclaims, excitedly. "What's that? Liberty, did you say?Liberty? Mine's gone long ago. I'm but a poor slave--Shebotha's slave.I can never be free again; no, _never_!"
"You may be free now--this very moment--if you wish it."
"If I wish it! Ha, ha, ha! That's a good joke! If I wish it! Onlyshow me the way, and let Mam Shebotha go to--"
"Never mind Mam Shebotha. Listen to me, who am of the same race andpeople as yourself. There are some of them now near, who have come totake me home to my friends. You must have friends too, whom you leftlong ago. Why should you not go back to them?"
"_Carramba_!" he cries out, as if the sound of his native tongue hadbrought back to remembrance one of its most common exclamations, andalong with it a desire to return to the place where he last heard itspoken. "Why should I not? If you say you'll take me, I will."
"Ah! I'll not only take you, but be glad of your company. _Nosvamos_!"
It is still France
sca who speaks, and at the last words, pronounced in atone of half encouragement, half command, she stretches out her hand,and taking hold of that of her late jailer, leads him off, as a roughpampas colt just tamed and gentled.
Nacena, astonished at the spirit shown by the little paleface, anddelighted with a success which may prove advantageous to herself, saysnot a word; but steps off forward in front of the other two--making mutepantomimic signs to guide them in the direction they are to go.