BLACK ELK.
Everyone stopped.
In the desert, this word man almost always means an enemy. Man in the prairies is more dreaded by his fellow than the most ferocious wild beast. A man is a rival, a forced associate, who, by the right of being the stronger, comes to share with the first occupant, and often, if we may not say always, strives to deprive him of the fruits of his thankless labour.
Thus, whites, Indians, or half-breeds, when they meet in the prairies, salute each other with eye on the watch, ears open, and the finger on the trigger of the rifle.
At this cry of a man, the general and the lanceros, at all hazards, prepared against a sudden attack by cocking their guns, and concealing themselves as much as possible behind the bushes.
At fifty paces before them stood an individual, who, the butt on the ground, and his two hands leaning on the barrel of a long rifle, was observing them attentively.
He was a man of lofty stature, with energetic features and a frank, determined look. His long hair, arranged with care, was plaited, mingled with otter skins and ribbons of various colours. A hunting blouse of ornamented leather fell to his knees; gaiters of a singular cut, ornamented with strings, fringes, and a profusion of little bells covered his legs; his shoes consisted of a pair of superb moccasins, embroidered with false pearls.
A scarlet blanket hung from his shoulders, and was fastened round his middle by a red belt, through which were passed two pistols, a knife, and an Indian pipe.
His rifle was profusely decorated with vermilion and little copper nails.
At a few paces from him his horse was browsing on the mast of the trees.
Like its master, it was equipped in the most fantastic manner, spotted and striped with vermilion, the reins and crupper ornamented with beads and bunches of ribbon, while its head, mane, and tail, were abundantly decorated with eagle's feathers floating in the wind.
At sight of this personage the general could not restrain a cry of surprise.
"To what Indian tribe does this man belong?" he asked the guide.
"To none," the latter replied.
"How, to none?"
"No; he is a white trapper."
"And so dressed?"
The guide shrugged his shoulders.
"We are in the prairies;" he said.
"That is true," the general murmured.
In the meantime, the individual we have described, tired, no doubt, of the hesitation of the little party before him, and wishing to know what their disposition was, resolutely accosted them.
"Eh! eh!" he said in English, "Who the devil are you—and what are you seeking here?"
"Caramba!" the general replied, throwing his gun behind him, and ordering his people to do the same; "we are travellers, fatigued with a long journey; the sun is hot, and we ask permission to rest a short time in your rancho."
These words being spoken in Spanish, the trapper replied in the same language,—
"Approach without fear; Black Elk is a good sort of fellow when people do not seek to thwart him; you shall share the little he possesses, and much good may it do you."
At the name of Black Elk the guide could not repress a movement of terror; he wished even to say a few words, but he had not time, for the hunter, throwing his gun upon his shoulder, and leaping into his saddle with a bound, advanced towards the Mexicans.
"My rancho is a few paces from this spot," said he to the general; "if the señorita is inclined to taste the well-seasoned hump of a buffalo, I am in a position to offer her that piece of politeness."
"I thank you, caballero," the young lady replied, with a smile; "but I confess that at this moment I stand in more need of repose than anything else."
"Everything will come in its time," the trapper said sententiously. "Permit me, for a few moments, to take the place of your guide."
"We are at your orders," said the general; "go on, we will follow you."
"Forward! then," said the trapper, placing himself at the head of the little troop.
At this moment his eyes fell by chance upon the guide—his thick eyebrows contracted. "Hum!" he muttered to himself, "what does this mean? We shall see," he added.
And without taking further notice of the man, without appearing to recognise him, he gave the signal for departure.
After riding for some time silently along the banks of a moderately wide rivulet, the trapper made a sharp turn, and departing from the stream suddenly, plunged again into the forest.
"I crave your pardon," he said, "for making you turn out of your way; but this is a beaver pond, and I do not wish to frighten them."
"Oh!" the young lady cried, "how delighted I should be to see those industrious animals at work!"
The trapper stopped.
"Nothing more easy, señorita," he said, "if you will follow me, while your companions remain here, and wait for us."
"Yes, yes!" Doña Luz replied eagerly; but checking herself all at once, added, "Oh, pardon me, dear uncle."
The general cast a look at the trapper.
"Go, my child," he said, "we will wait for you here."
"Thank you, uncle," the young girl remarked joyfully, as she leaped from her horse.
"I will be answerable for her," the trapper said frankly; "fear nothing."
"I fear nothing when trusting her to your care, my friend," the general replied.
"Thanks!" And making a sign to Doña Luz, Black Elk disappeared with her among the bushes and trees.
When they had gone some distance, the trapper stopped. After listening and looking around him on all sides, he stooped towards the young girl, and laying his hand lightly on her right arm, said,—
"Listen!"
Doña Luz stood still, uneasy and trembling.
The trapper perceived her agitation.
"Be not afraid," he rejoined; "I am an honest man; you are in as much safety here alone with me in this desert as if you were in the Cathedral of Mexico, at the foot of the high altar."
The young girl cast a furtive glance at the trapper. In spite of his singular costume, his face wore such an expression of frankness, his eye was so soft and limpid, when fixed upon her, that she felt completely reassured.
"Speak," she said.
"You belong," the trapper resumed, "I perceive now, to that party of strangers who, for some days past, have been exploring the prairies in every direction. Do you not?"
"Yes."
"Among you is a sort of madman, who wears blue spectacles and a white wig, and who amuses himself—for what purpose I cannot tell—with making a provision of herbs and stones, instead of trying, like a brave hunter, to trap a beaver, or knock over a deer."
"I know the man you speak of; he, as you suppose, forms part of our troop; he is a very learned physician."
"I know he is; he told me so himself. He often comes this way. We are very good friends. By means of a powder, which he persuaded me to take, he completely checked a fever which had tormented me two months, and of which I could not get rid."
"Indeed! I am happy to hear of such a result."
"I should like to do something for you, to show my gratitude for that service."
"I thank you, my friend, but I cannot see anything in which you can be useful to me, unless it be in showing me the beavers."
The trapper shook his head.
"Perhaps in something else," he said, "and that much sooner than you may fancy. Listen to me attentively, señorita. I am but a poor man; but here in the prairie, we know many things that God reveals to us, because we live face to face with Him. I will give you a piece of good advice. That man who serves you as a guide is an arrant scoundrel, and is known as such throughout all the prairies of the West. I am very much deceived if he will not lead you into some ambush. There is no lack here of plenty of rogues with whom he may lay plans to destroy you, or least, rob you."
"Are you sure of what you say?" the girl exclaimed, terrified at words which coincided so strangely with what Loyal Heart had said to her.
"I am as sure as a man can be who affirms a thing of which he has no proof; that is to say, after the antecedents of the Babbler everything of the sort must be expected from him. Believe me, if he has not already betrayed you, it will not be long before he will."
"Good God! I will go and warn my uncle."
"Beware of doing that! that would ruin all! The people with whom your guide will soon be in collusion, if he be not so already, are numerous, determined, and thoroughly acquainted with the prairie."
"What is to be done, then?" the young lady asked in great alarm.
"Nothing. Wait; and, without appearing to do so, carefully watch all your guide's proceedings."
"But——"
"You must be sure," the trapper interrupted, "that if I lead you to mistrust him, it is not with a view of deserting you when the moment comes for requiring my help."
"Oh! I believe that."
"Well, then, this is what you must do: as soon as you are certain that your guide has betrayed you, send your old mad doctor to me,—you can trust him, can you not?"
"Entirely!"
"Very well. Then, as I have said, you must send him to me, charging him only to say this to me. 'Black Elk'—I am Black Elk."
"I know you are; you told us so."
"That is right. He will say to me, 'Black Elk, the hour is come,' and nothing else. Shall you remember these words?"
"Perfectly. Only, I do not clearly understand how that can serve us."
The trapper smiled in a mysterious manner.
"Hum!" he said, after a short pause, "these few words will bring to you, in two hours, fifty men, the bravest in the prairies,—men who, at a signal from their leader, would allow themselves to be killed rather than leave you in the hands of those who will have possession of you, if what I expect should happen."
There was a moment of silence,—Doña Luz appeared very thoughtful.
The trapper smiled.
"Do not be surprised at the warm interest I take in you," he said, "a man who has entire power over me, has made me swear to watch over you, during an absence he has been compelled to make."
"What do you mean by that?" she said with awakened curiosity. "And who is this man?"
"He is a hunter who commands all the white trappers of the prairies. Knowing that you had the Babbler for a guide, he suspects that the half-breed intends to draw you into some snare?
"But the name of the man?" she cried, in an anxious, excited tone.
"Loyal Heart. Will you have confidence in me now?"
"Thanks, my friend, thanks!" the young lady replied, with great emotion. "I will not forget your instructions; and when the moment comes—if unfortunately it should come—I will not hesitate to remind you of your promise."
"And you will do well, señorita, because it will then be the only means of safety left you. You understand me perfectly, and all is well. Be sure to keep our conversation to yourself. Above all, do not appear to have any secret understanding with me; that devil of a half-breed is as cunning as a beaver; if he suspect anything, he will slip through your fingers, like the viper he is."
"Be satisfied; I will be mute."
"Now let us pursue our way to the Beaver Pond. Loyal Heart watches over you."
"He has already saved our lives on the occasion of the conflagration of the prairies," she said with emotion.
"Ah! ah!" the trapper murmured, fixing his eyes upon her with a singular expression, "everything is for the best, then." And he added in a loud voice: "Be without fear, señorita, if you follow strictly the advice I have given you, no evil will happen to you in the prairies, whatever be the treachery to which you may be exposed."
"Oh!" the girl cried, with great warmth, "in the hour of danger I will not hesitate to have recourse to you—I swear I will not!"
"That is settled," said the Black Elk, smiling; "now let us go and see the beavers."
They resumed their walk, and at the end of a few minutes arrived on the verge of the forest. The trapper then stopped, and making a sign to the young girl to be motionless, turned towards her, and whispered—
"Look!"