THE WHITE GAZELLE.
Red Cedar's proposition was too advantageous for the Pirates to hesitate about accepting it. This was the reason:—
For some years past a man had appeared on the prairies, at the head of fifty or sixty determined companions, and had waged such a rude war on the adventurers or pirates, that it had become almost impossible to carry on their old trade with impunity.
On his private authority, this man had constituted himself the defender of the caravans that crossed the desert, and protector of the trappers and hunters, whom they no longer dared plunder, through fear of being attacked by this unknown redressor of grievances.
This existence was growing insupportable, and an end must be put to it. Unfortunately the means had hitherto failed the pirates to deal a heavy blow, and free themselves from the crushing yoke Bloodson bowed them under. Hence they did not hesitate, as we have seen, to accept Red Cedar's proposition.
These men had been acquainted with the bandit for several years: he had, indeed, been their chief for some time; but at that period they were still civilised brigands, if we may employ that expression when speaking of such fellows, prowling along the frontiers of the American Union, assaulting isolated farms, and plundering and killing the defenceless inhabitants.
This band, which was at that time composed of about fifty, was gradually driven back on the desert, where Bloodson, who hunted them like wild beasts, had decimated them so thoroughly in many a fight, that the band, now reduced to only ten persons, was literally at bay, and compelled to live on the produce of the chase, or the rare occasions for plunder offered by isolated travellers, whom their unlucky star brought into the vicinity of the pirates' lair.
As they were perfectly concealed by the Indian garb they wore, the few travellers who escaped them fancied they had been plundered by redskins. This disguise caused their security, and allowed them to go at times and sell the produce of their plunder in the seaport towns.
We have said that the bandit band was composed of ten men, but we were incorrect; for one of them was a woman.
There was a strange anomaly in this creature, scarce twenty years of age, with delicate features, a tall and lithe form, living among these ruffians whom she ruled over with all the force of a vast mind, indomitable courage, and an iron will. The brigands had a superstitious adoration for her which they could not exactly account for; obeying her slightest caprices without a murmur, and ready to let themselves be killed at the least sign from her rosy fingers.
She was, as it were, their palladium. The girl was perfectly well aware of the uncontrolled power she exercised over her terrible guardians, and abused it constantly, while they never attempted resistance. The Indians themselves, seduced by the grace, vivacity, and sympathetic charms of the young creature, had christened her the White Gazelle; a name harmonising so well with her character, that she was known by no other.
She wore a fanciful costume of extraordinary wildness and eccentricity, which was admirably suited to the gentle, though decided, and slightly dreamy expression of her face. It was composed of loose Turkish trousers, made of Indian cashmere, fastened at the knees with diamond garters; while boots of stamped deer hide protected her leg, and imprisoned her little foot. To her heels were fastened heavy gold Mexican spurs; double-barrelled pistols and a dagger were passed through her China crape girdle, which confined her delicate waist. A jacket of violet velvet, buttoned over the bosom with a profusion of diamonds, displayed her exquisite bust. A brilliant-hued Navajo zarapé, fastened at the neck with a clasp of rubies, served as her cloak, and a Panama hat of extreme fineness (doble paja), decorated with an eagle plume, covered her head, while allowing tresses of jet black hair to fall in disorder on her neck, and which, had they not been bound by a ribbon, would have trailed on the ground.
This girl was asleep when Red Cedar entered the cavern, and the pirates were accustomed to do nothing without her assent.
"Red Cedar is a man in whom we can place entire confidence," Pedro Sandoval said, as he summed up the affair, "but we cannot give him answer till we have consulted the niña."
"That is true," a second confirmed him—"hence, as any discussion will be useless, I think the best thing we can do, is to follow Red Cedar's example, and go to rest."
"Powerfully reasoned," said one of the bandits, called Orson; a little man with ignoble features, grey eyes, and a mouth extending from ear to ear, while laughing so as to display two rows of white teeth, wide and sharp as those of a wild beast; "so shall I say good night."
The other pirates did the same, and in a few minutes the deepest silence prevailed in the grotto, whose inhabitants, secure in the strength of their position, slept peacefully.
At daybreak Red Cedar opened his eyes, and rose from the hard bed on which he had rested, in order to stretch his limbs, and restore the circulation of the blood.
"Up already!" Sandoval said, as he emerged, cigarette in mouth, from one of the sleeping cells.
"My bed was not so attractive as to keep me longer," Red Cedar answered with a smile.
"Bah!" the other said, "'Tis the fortune of war; therefore I do not complain about it:" the squatter continued, drawing his comrade to the entrance of the grotto. "And now, gossip, answer me, if you please; what do you think of my proposal? You have had time for reflection, I suppose?"
"Cascaras!—it did not require much reflection to see that it was a good bargain."
"You accept," Red Cedar said, with a movement of joy.
"If I were to be master, I should not make the slightest difficulty, but—"
"Hang it, there is a but."
"You know very well there always is one."
"That is true; and what is the but?"
"Oh, less than nothing; we must merely submit the question to the Niña."
"That is true: I did not think of that."
"You see now."
"Cristo! She will accept."
"I am certain of it. Still, we must lay it before her."
"Of course. Stay, comrade, I prefer you should undertake it: while you are doing it, I will go and kill some game for breakfast. Does that suit you?"
"Very well."
"Good-bye for the present, then."
Red Cedar threw his rifle over his shoulder and left the grotto, whistling to his dog.
Sandoval, when left alone, prepared to discharge his commission, while saying to himself in an aside—
"That devil of a Red Cedar is always the same, as timid as he used to be: that results from not having been used to the society of ladies.
"Good morning, Sandoval," a gentle and melodious voice breathed in his ear.
And the White Gazelle tapped the shoulder of the old bandit, while smiling kindly on him. The girl was really a ravishing creature. She wore the costume we just now described; but she held in her hand a rifle, damascened with silver. Sandoval gazed on her for a moment with profound admiration, and then answered in a trembling voice—
"Good morning, child; did you have a good night?"
"I could not have had a better; I feel in glorious spirits this morning."
"All the better, dear girl, all the better; for I have to present to you an old comrade, who ardently desires to see you again."
"I know whom you are alluding to, father," the girl replied. "I was not asleep last night when he arrived, and even supposing I had been so the noise you made would have awakened me."
"You heard our conversation, then?"
"From one end to the other."
"And what is your advice?"
"Before answering, tell me who are the people we are to attack."
"Do you not know?"
"No; since I ask you."
"Hang it; they are Americans, I believe."
"But what sort of Americans? Are they Gringos or Gachupinos?"
"I did not inquire into such details; to me all Americans are alike; and provided they are attacked, I ask for nothing more."
"That is possible, old father," the girl answered, with a little pout; "but I make a grand difference between them."
"I do not exactly see the use of it."
"I am free to think as I please, I suppose," she interrupted him, as she stamped her foot impatiently.
"Yes, my child, yes—do not be angry, I entreat you."
"Very good; but pay attention to what I am going to tell you. Red Cedar is a man on whom I do not put the slightest trust. He is ever accustomed to pursue a gloomy object, which escapes his partners; they only serve him as a cat's paw in all his undertakings; and he abandons them unblushingly so soon as they are of no further use to him. The affair Red Cedar proposes to you is magnificent at the first glance; but, on reflecting, far from offering us profits, it may bring a multitude of annoyances on us, and bring us into a wasp's nest, whence we cannot emerge."
"Then, your opinion is to decline?"
"I do not say that; but I wish to know what you intend doing, and what our chances of success are?"
During this conversation, the other bandits had left their cells and ranged themselves round the speakers, whose discussion they followed with the deepest interest.
"On my word, my dear child, I do not know what answer to make you. Last evening Red Cedar spoke to me of the affair, and it appeared to us grand; but if it does not please you we will give it up. We will not mention it again; and that's all about it."
"That is how you always are, Sandoval; it is impossible to discuss any point with you. At the slightest objection offered you flare up, and will not listen to the reasons which may be given to you."
"I am not so, my child; I only state facts. However, here is Red Cedar; have it out with him."
"That will not take long," the girl answered; and turning to the squatter, who entered the grotto, bearing on his shoulders a magnificent elk he had shot, and which he threw on the ground, she said—
"Answer me a single question, Red Cedar."
"Twenty, if it be agreeable to you, charming Gazelle," the bandit said, with a constrained smile, which rendered him hideous.
"No, one will be sufficient. Who are the people you are engaged with?"
"A Mexican family."
"I want to know their name."
"I will tell it you. It is the Zarate family, one of the most influential in New Mexico."
At this answer a vivid flush ran over the girl's face, and she displayed marks of profound emotion.
"I also propose," the bandit continued, whose notice this flush had not escaped, "to finish with that demon, Bloodson, on whom we have so many insults to avenge."
"Good!" she said with increasing emotion.
The astounded brigands gazed anxiously on the girl. At length, by a violent effort, the Gazelle succeeded in reassuming an air of coolness; and, addressing the Pirates, said to them, in a voice whose accent revealed a great internal agitation—
"That entirely changes the question. Bloodson is our most cruel enemy. If I had known that at first, I should not have opposed the enterprise as I did."
"Then—?" Sandoval ventured to interrupt. "I consider the idea excellent; and the sooner we put it in execution, the better."
"Very good," Red Cedar exclaimed. "I felt sure that the niña would support me."
The Gazelle smiled on him.
"Whoever could understand women?" Sandoval muttered in his moustache.
"Now," the young girl added, with extraordinary animation, "let us hasten to make our preparations for departure, as we have not an instant to lose."
"Caspita! I am glad we are going to do something at last," said Orson, as he prepared to cut up the elk brought in by Red Cedar: "we were beginning to moulder in this damp hole."
"Leonard," Sandoval said, "look after the horses; fetch them from the corral, and bring them to the subterraneous passage."
"Hang it all," said Red Cedar; "talking about horses, I haven't one."
"That is true," Sandoval replied; "you arrived on foot yesterday; but I fancied you had left your horse in the chaparral."
"No, it was killed in an ambuscade, where I all but left my hide. Since then, my dog has carried the saddle."
"We have more horses than we want, so Leonard shall bring one to you."
"Thanks, I will make it up to you."
Leonard and another bandit collected the harness and went off. When the meal was finished, which did not take long, as the Pirates were anxious to start, the separations forming the rooms were taken down, and two or three Pirates, arming themselves with powerful levers, moved an enormous rock, under which was the hole, serving as cache to the band, when obliged to leave its den temporarily. In this hole they placed any objects of value which the grotto contained, and the rock was then returned to its place.
This duty accomplished, Sandoval shouted as he proceeded to the mouth of the grotto—
"Some men to help."
At a sign from Sandoval, half a dozen men seized the end of a tree serving as a bridge, lifted it, balanced it for a moment in the air, and hurled it into the precipice, down which it rolled, with a sound resembling the discharge of a park of artillery. The exterior of the grotto was then covered with shrubs, in order to conceal it as far as possible.
"Ouf," Sandoval said, "at present all is in order; we will start when you please."
"At once!" the girl said, who seemed a prey to a great impatience, and who during all these lengthened preparations had not ceased to, scold the Pirates for their delay.
The band entered the passage without further delay; and, after a march of about half an hour, entered a ravine, where the horses, under the guard of a Pirate, were nibbling the pea vines and young tree shoots.
All mounted. The White Gazelle allowed her comrades to pass, and managed to remain a little in the rear. Then, approaching Red Cedar, she looked at him in a peculiar way, and laid her dainty hand on his shoulder.
"Tell me, scalp hunter," she muttered, in a low and concentrated voice, "it is really Don Miguel de Zarate, the father of Don Pablo, whom you wish to crush?"
"Yes, señorita," the squatter answered, feigning astonishment at this question. "Why do you ask me that?"
"Nothing," she said, with a shrug of her shoulders; "merely an idea."
And, spurring her horse, which bounded forward with a snort of pain, she rejoined the band, which started at a long trot.
"Why does she take such interest in Don Pablo?" Red Cedar asked himself, so soon as he was alone. "I must know that! Perhaps it may help me to—"
A sinister smile curled the corners of his thin lips, and he added, as he watched the girl gallop on—
"You fancy your secret well kept. Poor fool! I shall soon know it."