Part 26 (1/2)
”We must m.u.f.fle our animals,” says Caspar. ”And what's more, take them back to the other side, where we came up. There we can better conceal them among the bushes. Besides, if it should come to our being under the necessity of a speedy retreat, we'll be nearer to the back-track, and have a fairer chance of getting off. Senoritos! get your jergas, and wrap them round your horses' heads.”
He sets the example by so disposing of his own; and, accustomed to quick action in matters of the kind, all three soon have their animals ”tapado.” Then, leading them across to where the path ascends on the opposite side, they place them under cover of some thick bushes growing near by, Caspar saying:
”They'll be safe enough here, I take it; at all events till the morning.
Then we may move them elsewhere, and if we're to have a run for it, remember, _hijos mios_, 'twill be a race for our lives. There's no Naraguana now to stand between us and that young wolf, who I fear has got the dear little lamb in his clutches, so fast we'll have great--”
The effect of his words are such, upon those listening to them, that he suddenly interrupts himself in what he was about to say, and in changed tone continues: ”_Carramba_! we'll rescue her yet, Naraguana, or no Naraguana. It can be done without him, and I think I know the way.”
In saying so, Caspar is practising a slight deception, his object being to cheer his young companions, over whom his last speech seemed to cast the gloom of despair. For he has as yet thought of no way, nor conceived any definite plan of action. When asked by Cypriano to explain himself, he is silent; and appealed to, he answers by evasion.
The truth is, that up to the instant of his finding Naraguana's body upon the scaffold, he too had been trusting all to what the latter would do for them; and no more than Ludwig could he believe the good old chief to have turned traitor to the palefaced friend so long under his protection, much less connived at his a.s.sa.s.sination. Now, the gaucho knows he has had no hand either in the murder of his master, or the abduction of that master's daughter. These events must have occurred subsequent to his death, and, while they were in the act of occurrence, Naraguana was sleeping his last sleep under his plumed _manta_ upon that elevated platform. His son and successor--for Gaspar doubts not that Aguara has succeeded him in the chieftains.h.i.+p--is answerable for the deed of double crime, whoever may have been his aiders and abettors.
Of course, this makes the case all the more difficult to deal with, since the new _cacique_, by this time established in full plenitude of power, will have it all his own way, and can carry things with a high hand, as he most surely will. To make appeal to him for the rest.i.tution of the captive would be manifestly idle, like asking a tiger to surrender the prey it holds between its teeth or in its claws. The gaucho has no thought of so appealing, any more than either of the others. And no more than they has he formed a plan of future action.
Only now, after their disposal of the horses, is his brain busy in the conception of some scheme suited to the changed circ.u.mstances; and hence, on Cypriano asking him to tell the way he knew of, he but replies evasively, saying:
”Be patient, Senorito! Wait till we've got things a little snug, then I'll take pleasure in telling you. But we mustn't remain here. On the other side of this queer cemetery, where the road runs down to the _tolderia_--as I've no doubt there is such--that will be the place for us to spend the night in. There we can see and hear what pa.s.ses on the plain, and should any one stray up we'll be warned of it, either by our eyes or ears, in good time to get out of their way. So let us cross over. And we must step silently,” he adds, pointing to the _cacique's_ scaffold tomb, ”lest we disturb the sleep of old Naraguana, up yonder.”
With this facetious remark, made partly in the indulgence of his usual humour, but as much to raise the spirits of his young companions, he strides off among the odd structures, making direct for the other side of the cemetery, Ludwig and Cypriano following in single file.
CHAPTER FORTY NINE.
GASPAR MEANS MASQUERADING.
As they might truly antic.i.p.ate, the gaucho's conjecture proves to be correct. A road runs up to the summit of the hill on its western side; not direct, but somewhat zigzagged, in consequence of the slope on that face being steeper, and the ground more rocky and uneven. Withal, it is much wider than that by which they ascended, the latter being only a path leading out to the uninhabited pampa: while the former is the main thoroughfare between town and cemetery. It debouches on the level summit through a slight hollow, or defile, possibly due to the wear and tear of travel, continued through the long ages. Many a funeral procession, and from the most remote time, may have wound its way up that steep slope, pa.s.sing between two cliffs, which, like the posterns of some grand gateway, mark the entrance to this elevated burial-place.
They do not go direct to the point where the town road enters the cemetery ground, but first back to the fig-tree to get their guns, ponchos, and some other articles left under it in their haste to put the horses in a better place of security. Having recovered the weapons and chattels, they proceed in search of the road. It is easily found, as all the paths between the separate scaffolds run into it. The point where it comes up out of the defile is but a short distance from the fig-tree; and on reaching this point they take their stand under the cliff; the one on the right hand side: for the moon being behind this, its shadow is projected more than half across the causeway of the road, so giving them a safe spot to stand in.
But they do not remain long upon their feet. Gaspar, observing a low bench of rock at the cliff's base behind them, repeats a Spanish synonym of the old saw, ”It's as cheap sitting as standing;” and with this drops down upon the ledge, the others doing likewise.
The spot thus chosen is in every way answerable for the object they have in view. They are right over the Indian town, and can see into its streets, so far as is permitted by the moon's declining light. It commands, moreover, a view of the road, for a good reach below, to the first angle of the zigzag, and no one could ascend beyond that point without being seen by them so long as there is light; while there is no danger of being themselves seen. One pa.s.sing up, even when opposite the place where they are seated, would not perceive them; since, in addition to the shadowing cliff, there is a thick scrub between them and the travelled track, effectually screening them.
The advantages of the position are apparent to all; and, soon as settled in it, Cypriano once more calls upon Gaspar to make known the plan he has hinted at.
Thus again challenged, the gaucho, who has meanwhile been doing his best to trace out some course of action, responds, speaking in a slow, meditative way. For as yet he has but a vague idea of what ought to be done.
”Well,” he says, ”there's but one plan I can think of as at all likely to be successful. It may be, if dexterously managed; and I dare say we can so manage it.”
He pauses, seeming to deliberate within himself; which the two youths perceiving, refrain to ask further questions, leaving him to continue at his own time.
Which at length he does, with the odd observation:--
”One of us must become an Indian.”
”Become an Indian!” exclaims Ludwig. ”What mean you by that, Gaspar?”
”I mean counterfeit a redskin; get disguised as one, and so steal into their town.”
”Ah! now, I understand. But that will be a dangerous thing to do, Gaspar. If caught--”
”Of course it will be dangerous,” interrupts the gaucho. ”If caught, whoever of us it be, would no doubt get his skull crushed in by a _macana_, or maybe his body burnt over a slow fire. But as you see everything's dangerous for us now, one may as well risk that danger as any other. As to counterfeiting an Indian, I propose taking the part myself; and I should be able to play it pretty well, having, as you both know, had some experience in that line. It was by a trick of the same sort I got off from the Guaycurus when I was their prisoner up the Pilcomayo; and if I hadn't done it neatly, you shouldn't now see me here.”