Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 20 — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

as Ps s ) head with its muzzle to the wind: then tak- ing a long pole covered with a bran-new red blanket, which he offered to the Master of Life, he proceeded, followed by his relations and friends, to plant it before the sweating- Jodge. The songs and dances continued. The sounds of the chickikouis became more ani- mated. A species of frenzy seemed to seize on all ‘he Indians, and the old women, who, till this moment, had remained impassive spec- tators of the ceremony, rushed in disorder toward the lodge, uttering loud yells, and mingled with the noisy crowd, Dona Clara remained alone at the foot of the tree, near the river-bank, Noone paid apy further attention to her, t seemed as if she had been forgotten in the general excitement. ‘She took an anxious glance around; by a species of intuition she felt that the help she expected would arrive from the direc- tion of the river. Carelessly and slowly, stooping every second to cull the charm- ing flowers—something like our yiolets— which are the last to enamel the prairie, she approached the bank, lat once she felt herself pulse back by the skirt of her dress, and was terribly alarmed. _ At the same time that this mysterious hand seized her, a voice whispered the simple words: “To the right, and stoop.” The maiden guessed, rather than heard, the words; but she obeyed without hesi- tation. Two minutes after, mgt’ & small path that opened before her, she found herself sheltered behind an enormous rock, on the river-bank.. Two horses, saddled in the In- dian fashion, were fastened to a picket near the rock. At a sign from Eagle-wing, Dona Clara leaped on to one of the horses, while the In- dian bestrode the other. “Good,” he said, in his sympathizing voice; ‘‘ brave heart!’ And letting loose the bridle of both horses, he said: ‘‘ Quick- er than the storm |” The half-tamed mustangs started more rapidly than the wind, making the pebbles strike fire under their hoofs. It was broad day, the prairie extended for an enormous distance, flat, naked, and undi- versified; and at only a few paces off, the whole population of the village would not fail soon to notice them. The position was most perilous and crit- ical; the two fugitives knew it, and re- doubled their ardor, boldly braving the danger. _All at once a yell of rage vibrated in the air. ‘* Courage !’’ the chief said. ““T have it,” the girl replied, with clench- ed teeth, asshe urged her horse to increas- ed speed. ‘* They shall never capture me alive.’’ The Apaches, who had left their village for a religious festival, had not brought their arms with them, and their horses nat- urally remained in the stables, This was an hour’s respite granted the fu, gitives. So soon as the Indians had perceived Dona Clara’s flight, the ceremony was interrupted, and all rushed tumultuously toward the village, noisily demanding their weapons and horses. 1 Within a few minutes the most active were in the saddle, and galloping in the tra- ces of Dona Clara and le-wing. Few can form an idea of whata pursuit is on the prairies. The Indians are the finest horsemen in the world, Riveted to their steeds, which they squeeze and hold up between their nervous Knees, they become identified with them, communicating their passions to them, as it were, by an electric fluid, and perform rodigies on horseback; rocks, ravines, edges, currents—nothing stops or checks this furious race which is allied to madness: a living whirlwind, they fly through space — headlong speed, enveloped in a halo of ‘Two hours passed thus, and the fugitives, bent over their horses’ necks, were unable to take a moment’s rest. Their half-mad- dened steeds, with their coats white with foam, and bleeding nostrils, reeled with fa- tigue and terror; their trembling sinews scarce supported them, and yet, urged on by their riders, the devoured ‘the space, guessing instinctively that the furious band of I s was following them at a short distance. : Scaree a thousand yards separated the two parties. Black Cat, furious at having been cheated by a woman, was two horses’ length in advance, and was followed by seven or ht Indians, whose horses ome than those of the others, had forged ea Eayle-wing turned round, and saw four warriors a hundred paces from him. ‘‘Forward!’? he shouted to the maiden, as he struck her horse’s croup with his whip; and it bounded forward, with a supreme effort, uttering a snort of pain. At the same time the Coras turned back, and rushing like lightning on his enemies, ere they had time to place themselves in a posture of defense, he discharged his rifle at them. An Apache fell dead. The sachem, whose horse was exhausted, felled a second foe with the butt of his un; he then leaped on to the steed of the rst warrior he had killed, caught the other by the bridle and went off again, leavin the Apaches astounded by this act of bold- ness. Ten minutes later he rejoined Dona Clara, who had seen with a terror, mingled with admiration, the heroie action of her de- fender. The maiden, beneath her apparent weak- ness, concealed a thoroughly manly soul. With her cheeks slightly tinged, her eye- brows contracted, her teeth clenched, and animated by the fixed idea of escaping her enemies, fatigue seemed to have no mastery over her. It was with a feeling of indescrib- able joy that she mounted the fresh steed the Indian brought her. Owing to Eagle-wing’s bold stroke, the fugitives had a considerable advance on their pursuers; for the Apaches, as they same up to the spot where their two com- rades had been killed, leaped off their horses, and surrounded their corpses with lamenta- tions. Eagle-wing understood that this flight could not last, and that sooner or later they must die or yield; he therefore altered his tactics. At a little aistance from the spot where they now were the Gila was contracted; the river, reduced to a width of one hundred and fifty yards at the most, ran between two wooded hills. | ‘* We are lost,’’ he hurriedly said, to his companion, ‘tif we.continue to fly thus.. A desperate resolve can alone save us.’’ ‘* Let us try it at all risks,’’ the maiden an- swered, intrepidly, with quivering lip and flashing eye. ‘*Come!’’ he continned. Dona Clara followed him without hesita- tion to the rugged bank of the river, when the warrior stopped. ‘* There,’’ he said, hoarsely, as he pointed with a gesture full of nobility to the Apaches coming up at full speed, “slavery, infamy, and death. Here,’’ he continued, as .he polnyed to the river, ‘‘ death, perhaps, but iberty.”’ ‘* Let us be free or die!’’ she replied. As we have said, the river ran between two elevated banks, and the fugitives were now standing like two equestrian statues on © the top of a hillock twenty or five and twenty feet in hight, from which they must throw themselves into the river—an enor- mous leap for the horses, which ran a risk of being crushed in falling, and dragging their riders down with them. But any other means of flight had become impossible, The Apaches, spread all over the plain, had succeeded in surrounding the fugitives. ‘‘Has my sister decided?’ tae Indian asked. Dona Clara took a glance around her. The red-skins, headed: by Black Cat, were scarce one hundred and fi ty yards distant. ‘“‘Let us go, in Heaven’s name,” she said, ‘“May Natosh protect us!’’ the Indian said. They energetically pressed the flanks of their horses, lifting them at the same mo- ment, and the two noble animals leaped into the river, uttering a snort of terror. The Apaches arrived at this moment on the brow of the hill, and could not restrain a yell of disappointment and wrath at the sight of the desperate act. The waters had closed over the fugitives sending up to heaven a cloud of spray, bu the horses soon reappeared swimming vigo- rously toward the other bank, The Indians had halted on the hill, insult- ing by their yells and threats the victims who eeranes by such a prodigy of daring. One of them, urged by his fury, and un- able to pull up his horse in time, plunged into the Gila; but, having taken his precau- tions badly, the fall was mortal to the horse. The Indian slipped off, and began striking out for the bank. | Instead of continuing his flight, as he should have done, Eagle-wing, impelled b that spirit of bravado nat to the red- skins, re-entered the river withont hesita- tion, and, at the moment when the Apache warrior re-appeared on the surface, he bent over, seized him, by his long hair, and turn- ing to his enemies, who.watched with a shud; der this terrible drama, he drew up the wretch to his saddle-bow, scalped him, and brandishing this sanguinary trophy with an air of triumph, he uttered his war-yell, _ The Apaches poured a shower of bullets and arrows round the Coras sachem, who, standing motionless in the middle of the river, still waved his horrible trophy.. At length he turned his horse’s head, and re- joined his companion, who was awaiting him timorously on the bank. ‘“‘Let us go,’’ he said, as he fastened the scalp to his waist-belt... ‘‘ The Apaches are dogs, who can do naught but bark,’’ ‘“Let us go’’ she replied, as she turned her head away in terror, At the moment w %m they started again without troubling themselyes about their enemies, who, scattered along the other bank, were eagerly seeking a ford, Eagle- wing perceived a cloud of dust, which, on dissipating, permitted him to see a party of horsemen galloping np at lightning speed, ‘“‘ There is no hope left,’’ he muttered. . --_——_—eoess CHAPTER XIV. THE SUCCOR. ane WE will leave egies and Dona Clara sor a moment, and return to Bloodson’s Teoeali, A few minutes before sunrise, Valentine awoke. ‘‘ Up,” he said to his companions, ‘it,is the hour for onrting Don Pablo and Shaw opened their eyes and got ready: but Curumilla was not there. “Oh, oh,” the hunter said: ‘* the chief is up neeeh I fancy. Let us go down to the sear e shall probably soon come across im. The three men left the grotto, and began, by the uncertain rays of the moon, sliding down the abrupt sides of the Teocali, leay- ing their comrades asleep. A few minutes later, they reached the plain, where Curumilla was waiting for them, holding four horses by the bridle, . Valentine gave a start of surprise. ‘*We had agreed to go on foot, chief,” he said. ‘Have you forgotten that?”’ ** No,” the other replied, laconically. ‘*Then, why, chief, did you saddle these horses, which are useless to us?’ The Indian shook his head. * We shall he better on horseback,’’ he said. ‘* Still,’ Don Pablo observed, ‘‘I fancy that it’s better to follow a trail on foot, as you said yourself, yesterday, Valentine.’’ The latter reflected for an instant; then, turning to the young man, he answered him with a significant toss of the head: ‘*Ourumilla is a prudent man. We have lived together for nearly fifteen years, and I have always found it best to follow his’ ad- vice. Only once I wanted to have my own way, and then I all but lost my sealp. We will mount, Don Pablo. The chief has his reasons for acting as he is now doing, as the result will in all probability prove.’ | The hunters leaped into the saddle, and, after a farewell glance at the Teoeali, where their friends were resting, they let their horses feel the spur. ‘‘In what direction are we going ?’’ Don Pablo asked. ‘‘ Let us first gain the river-bank,’’ Valen- tine answered. ‘So soon as we have got there, we shall see what we have to do. But, mind we do not separate; for in the - darkness it will be almost impossible to find each other.’’ ; On the prairies, the only roads that exist, and can be followe i, are paths traced for — es by buffaloes, elks, and wild» beasts. bese paths form iabyrinths, of which the Indians alone hold the thread; hunters, however well acquainted they may be with the prairics, only enter them with the ut- most precautions. When they fancy they recognize a path, they will not leave it under any pretext, certain that if they were so im- ‘prudent as to turn to the right or left, they would not fail to lose themselves, and have infinite difficulty in finding their road again. Valentine was, perhaps, the only white hunter on the prairies who, owing to the rofound knowiedge he possessed of the esert, could enter this maze with impunity. However, as all the paths inevitably lead to the banks of rivers, and this direction was the one the little party was to follow, Valentine’s remark was ofly intended to moderate Don Pablo's ardor, and compel him to march at his side. a After a hurried ride of two hours, the hunt- ers at length found themselves on the banks of the Gila, which rolled its yellow and tur- bid waters along beneath them. er At the moment when they reached the river, the sun rose majestically on the hori- zon in a mist of purpled clande,’ 3 : “Let us stop here a moment,” Valentine said “in order to form our plan of action,’ Eomicbhboo Sat ¢. ‘ 1 ~*~ - +