SPANIARD AND INDIAN.
It was not, as may well be believed, through fear, that General Bustamente had absented himself from Valdivia at the moment when one of his lieutenants so boldly proclaimed him from the top of the steps of the cabildo, before the populace. No, General Bustamente was one of those soldiers of fortune of whom so many are found in America, accustomed to set his life upon a cast of the die, and to be turned aside by nothing in the world from the accomplishment of his projects. He had hoped, by the means of the forces he had concentrated in this remote province of the republic, that the inhabitants, taken unawares, would only offer an insignificant resistance, and that he should be able, by joining his troops with those of Antinahuel, to make a forced march through Araucania, gain possession of Concepción, and thence, keeping the gathering snowball in motion, and dragging his companions after him, arrive at Santiago in time to prevent any movement, and oblige the inhabitants to capitulate and accept, as an accomplished fact, the change of government inaugurated by him in the distant provinces of the republic.
This plan was not deficient in audacity, or even in a certain degree of policy; it comprised great chances of success. Unfortunately for General Bustamente, the Dark-Hearts, whose spies were everywhere, had got wind of this project, and had countermined it by taking advantage of the opportunity offered them by their enemy to unmask their own batteries. We have seen under what conditions the struggle between the two parties had commenced in Valdivia. The General, who was ignorant of what was passing, felt in a state of perfect security. As soon as he was in his tent with Antinahuel, he let fall the curtain which closed it behind them, and, by a gesture, invited the toqui to be seated.
"Sit down, chief," he said, "I have something to say to you."
"I am at the orders of my white brother," the Indian replied, with a bow.
The General attentively examined the man before him; he endeavoured to read on his countenance the various feelings that acted upon him; but the features of the Indian were marble; no impression was reflected by them.
"Let us speak frankly, loyally, and as friends who wish no better than to understand each other plainly," he said.
Antinahuel bowed reservedly to this appeal to frankness, and the General continued—
"At this moment the people of Valdivia are constituting me, by acclamation, protector of a new confederation, formed of all the states."
"Good!" said the chief, with an almost imperceptible shake of the head; "is my father sure of that?"
"Certainly I am. The Chilians are tired of the continual agitations which disturb the country; they have forced this heavy burden upon me; but I owe myself to my country, and I will not disappoint the hopes my compatriots place in me."
These words were pronounced in a hypocritical tone of self-denial, of which the Indian was not in the least the dupe. A smile flitted across the lips of the chief, which the General affected not to perceive.
"To be brief," he continued, quitting the mild, conciliatory tone in which he had till that time spoken, to assume a more decided and abrupt manner, "are you prepared to keep your engagements?"
"Why should I not keep them?" Antinahuel remarked.
"Will you march with me to assure the success of my projects?"
"Let my father order, I will obey."
This readiness was displeasing to the General.
"Come," he said, angrily, "let us put an end to this; I have not time to enter into a contest of wits with you, or follow you through a labyrinth of Indian circumlocutions."
"I do not understand my father," Antinahuel replied, impassively.
"We shall never get to the end, chief," the General said, stamping his foot, "if you will not answer me categorically."
"I listen to my father; let him ask, I will reply."
"How many men can you have under arms within twenty-four hours?"
"Ten thousand," the chief said, drawing himself up proudly.
"All experienced warriors?"
"All."
"What do you require of me for them?"
"My father knows."
"I accept of all your conditions but one."
"Which is that?"
"The surrender of the province of Valdivia to you."
"Is not my father going to make up for that province on another side?"
"How so?"
"Am I not to assist my father in conquering Bolivia?"
"Yes."
"Well, then?"
"You are mistaken, chief, it is not the same thing; I may enlarge the Chilian territory, but honour forbids me to diminish it."
"Let my father reflect; the province of Valdivia was anciently an Araucanian Uthal-Mapus."
"Very possibly, chief; but, according to that principle, all Chili was Araucanian previous to the discovery of America."
"My father is mistaken; the Inca Sinchiroca had, a hundred years before, conquered the Chilian land as far as the Rio-Maulé."
"You seem to be well acquainted with the history of your country, chief," the General observed.
"Does not my father know the history of his?"
"That is not the question, now; do you accept my proposals or not?"
The chief appeared to reflect for an instant.
"Well!" the General exclaimed, impatiently, "time presses."
"That is true; I will, therefore, go and command a council, composed of the Apo-Ulmens and Ulmens of my nation, and submit the words of my father to them."
The General with difficulty suppressed an expression of anger.
"You must, doubtless, be joking, chief," he said—"your words cannot be serious."
"Antinahuel is the first toqui of his nation," the Indian replied, haughtily; "he never jokes."
"But you must give me your answer now—at once—in a few minutes!" cried the General; "who knows whether we may not be obliged to march within an hour from this time?"
"It is my duty, as much as it is my father's, to enlarge the territory of my people."
At this moment the gallop of a horse was heard approaching; the General flew to the entrance of the tent, where an orderly officer appeared. The face of this officer was bathed with perspiration, and spots of blood stained his uniform.
"General!" he said breathlessly.
"Silence!" the latter hissed, pointing to the chief, who, though apparently indifferent, followed all his movements attentively. The General turned towards Antinahuel.
"Chief," he said, "I have orders to give to this officer—pressing orders; if you will permit me, we will resume our conversation presently."
"Good!" replied the chief; "my father need not inconvenience himself; I can wait."
And after bowing, he left the tent slowly.
"Oh!" said the General to himself, "you demon! if, some day, I have you in my power!"
But perceiving that anger was making him forget himself, he turned towards the officer, who stood motionless:
"Well, Diego," he said, "what news have you?—are we conquerors?"
"No," the officer replied, shaking his head; "the people, excited by those incarnate demons, the Dark-Hearts, have rebelled."
"Oh!" the General cried, "shall I never be able to crush them? What has taken place?"
"The people have raised barricades; and Don Tadeo de Leon is at the head of the movement."
"Don Tadeo de Leon!" said the General.
"Yes, he who was so clumsily shot."
"Oh! this is war to the death then!"
"A part of the troops, seduced by their officers, who have sold themselves to the Dark-Hearts, have passed over to their side; at this moment they are fighting in all the streets with the fiercest inveteracy. I had to pass through a shower of bullets to come and inform you."
"We have not an instant to lose."
"No; for though the soldiers who have remained faithful to you are fighting like lions, I can assure you they are closely pressed."
"Maldición!" the General howled; "I will not leave stone upon stone of that accursed city!"
"Yes, but, in the first place, we must reconquer it, General, and that will prove rather a rough job, I promise you," replied the old soldier, who had preserved his blunt speech throughout.
"Very well!" said Bustamente; "let 'boot and saddle' be sounded, and every horseman take a foot soldier behind him."
Don Pancho Bustamente was a prey to the most violent rage; for several instants he stamped about his tent, like a wild beast in its cage. This unexpected resistance, in spite of all the measures of precaution he had taken, exasperated him. Suddenly the curtain of his tent was raised. "Who is there?" he cried. "Ah! chief, is that you? Well, what do you say?"
"I saw the chief come out, and I thought that perhaps my father would not be sorry to see me," the other replied, courteously.
"And you were right; I am delighted to see you; forget all we have said, chief; I accept all your conditions; are you satisfied, this time?"
"Yes. Including Valdivia?"
"That above all!" said the General, with concentrated rage.
"Ah!"
"Yes, and as that province has revolted, in order to be able to give it to you, I must bring it back to its duty, must I not?"
"To be sure you must!"
"Well, as I have it at my heart to fulfil all my engagements to you, I am going instantly to march against that city; will you help me to subdue it?"
"That will be but just, as I shall labour for myself."
"How many horsemen have you at hand?"
"Twelve hundred."
"Good!" said the General, "they will be more than we shall want."
"The troops are ready," said Diego, entering the tent, "and only await your Excellency's orders."
"To saddle, then; let us be gone! let us be gone! And you, chief, will you not accompany us?"
"Let my father move onward! my mosotones and I will tread in his steps quickly."
Ten minutes later, General Bustamente, with his soldiers, was again galloping along the road to Valdivia. Antinahuel followed him with his eyes attentively; then he rejoined his Ulmens, saying between his teeth, "Let us leave these Moro-Huincas to slaughter each other a little while; it will always be time enough to fall into the party."