by Mayne Reid
CHAPTER SIXTY ONE.
CONCLUSION.
After a day's rest at their old _tolderia_, the two parties of Tovas,now united in amity, set out on return to their Sacred Town. And alongwith them goes the Senora Halberger, with all the members of herfamily--including the Guano Indian domestics, and, needless to say, notleaving Gaspar Mendez behind. And, alike idle to declare, that they gonot as captives; but guests, to be honoured and better cared for thanever before. Better protected, too; for, as ever do they needprotection; now more than ever likely to be under the ban of theParaguayan despot. That solitary _estancia_ would no longer be a safeplace of residence for them, and they well know it.
Perfect safety they find at the Sacred Town, and hospitality too, greatas when Naraguana himself dispensed it. For is not Kaolin now_cacique_--he who saved them from death and destruction?
Kindly he extends his protection, and generously bestows hishospitality. But they do not for long need the former, nor are theycalled upon to abuse the latter by a too protracted stay. Shortly aftertheir arrival at the Sacred Town, they get news which, though of death,gives them joy, as it only could and should; since it is the death ofthat man who has been the cause of all their miseries. Jose Francia,feared far and wide throughout Paraguay, and even beyond its borders,has at length paid the debt due by all men, whether bad or good. Butalthough dead, strange to say, in the land he so long ruled with hardruthless hand, still dreaded almost as much as when living; his cowedand craven subjects speaking of him with trembling lips and batedbreath, no more as "El Supremo," but "El Defunto!"
The Senora Halberger believes she may now return to her native country,without fear of further persecution from him. But Caspar thinksotherwise; deeming it still unsafe, and pointing out the danger of theirbeing called to account for what they were not guilty of--the slaughterof the _cuarteleros_ in the defile. In fine, he urges her to make herfuture home in the Argentine States; a pleasanter land to live in,besides being a land of liberty, and, above all, the orthodox country ofhis own class and kind, the _gauchos_.
Observing the justness of his arguments, she consents to follow hisadvice; and to the Argentine States they all go, journeying across manygreat rivers and through hundreds of miles of wilderness. But they arenot permitted to travel either unprotected or alone; for Kaolinaccompanies them, with a band of his best braves--Nacena also formingone of the escort.
The Tovas _cacique_ sees them over the Salado river, and within safedistance of the outlying settlements of San Rosario, there leaving them.But when he parts company, to return to the Sacred Town, his sisterreturns not with him. Though as a brother he be dear to her, she hasfound one dearer, with whom she prefers to stay. And does stay, Kaolinhimself consenting; since the dearer one is his own friend and formerplaymate. The gentle Ludwig has at length succeeded in winning theheart of the savage maiden--still whole, despite the tearing of amisplaced passion, long since passed away.
Our tale could be prolonged, and the characters who have figured in itfollowed further; but not through scenes of the same exciting characteras those already detailed. Instead, the record of their after life,though not devoid of stirring incident, is more signalised by scenes ofpeace and prosperity. The reader will be satisfied with a peep at it,obtained some ten years later than the date of their settling down inthe Argentine States. A traveller at this time passing from San Rosarioto the German Colonies recently established on the Salado river, nearthe old but abandoned missionary settlement of Santa Fe, could not failto observe a grand _estancia_; a handsome dwelling-house withoutbuildings, _corrals_ for the enclosure of cattle, and all theappurtenances of a first-class _ganaderia_, or grazing establishment.Should he ask to whom it belongs, he would have for answer, "The SenoraHalberger;" and if curiosity led him to inquire further, he might betold that this lady, who is _una viuda_, is but the nominal head of theconcern, which is rather owned conjointly by her son and nephew, livingalong with her. Both married though; the latter, Senor Cypriano, to herdaughter and his own cousin; while the former, Senor Ludwig, has for hiswife an Indian woman; with possibly the remark added, that this Indianwoman is as beautiful and accomplished as though she were a white.
Were the traveller to deviate a little from his route, and approach nearenough to the house, he might see the members of this double thoughunited family, surrounded by several pretty children of both sexes,strolling about in happy harmony, and with that freedom from care whichspeaks of wealth, at the same time telling of its having been honestlyacquired.
Whether or not such a tableau be presented to the traveller's eye, oneman who should figure in it would sure be seen moving about the place.For he is the _mayor-domo_ of the estate, and if not actual master, themanager of all. As in that old _estancia_ near the northern bank of thePilcomayo, so in this new and grander one on the southern side of theSalado, everything is entrusted, as safely it may be, to GASPAR, THEGAUCHO.