CHAPTER V.
CONFIDENTIAL CHAT.
After conducting his guests to the compartment of the _teocali_ whichhe had appointed for them, the Tigercat retraced his steps, and turnedin the direction of a sufficiently ample excavation, which served forhis own particular abode.
The old man walked at a slow pace, with his head raised, and his browwrinkled under the tension of mighty thoughts. The flame of the torchhe held in his right hand played capriciously over his countenance,revealing a strange expression on his features, where hate, joy, anduneasiness reflected themselves by turns.
When he arrived at his _cuarto_ (bedchamber),--if it is right to givethe name chamber to a kind of hole ten feet square by seven feet high,which contained as furniture a few skulls of the bison dispersed hereand there, with a handful of maize-straw negligently thrown into acorner, and serving, no doubt, as couch for the inhabitants of thissorry refuge,--the Tigercat fixed his _ocote_ torch in a bracket ofiron made fast to the wall, crossed his arms on his breast, lifted hiseyes with an air of defiance, and muttered the words:
"At last!"
Doubtless these words summed up in his thoughts a long series of darkand bold combinations.
After pronouncing these words, the old man cast a searching glancearound him, as if he dreaded having been overheard. A mocking smilepassed across his pale lips; he sat down on a bison's skull, and,burying his face in his hands, plunged into profound meditation.
A long time elapsed before he changed his position. At last, a slightnoise fell on his ear: he lifted his head with a start, and turnedtowards the entrance to his cell.
"Come in!" he shouted. "I have waited for you with impatience."
"I think not!" replied a powerful voice; and the young hunter appearedat the threshold, where he stopped, holding his head erect, and lookingproud and daring.
A shade crossed the forehead of the Tigercat.
"Ah, ha!" cried he, with pretended gaiety. "In truth, I was notexpecting you, _muchacho_ (boy); but never mind; you are welcome."
"Is that wish truly in your thoughts at this moment?" sneered the other.
"And why should it not be in my thoughts? Am I in the habit ofdisguising them?"
"It is a useful habit under particular circumstances."
"A truth I do not deny; but not in this case. Come in; sit down, andlet us talk."
"I comply," answered the hunter, taking a few steps forward,"particularly as I have to demand an explanation from you."
The Tigercat frowned, and replied, with rising and ill-suppressed anger:
"Is it to me you speak thus? Have you forgotten who I am?"
"I forget nothing that I ought to remember," concisely replied theother.
"Boy! Have you forgotten that I am your father?"
"My father! Who will prove it?"
"You are over-venturesome," cried the old man in ire.
"After all," said the hunter scornfully, "it is nothing to me whetheryou be my father or not. What does it matter? Have you not told me athousand times over, that bonds of relationship do not exist in nature;that they are only a factitious sentiment, invented by human egotismfor the profit of the petty exigencies of debased society? Here, we areonly two men, equals in strength and courage; of whom the one comes todemand from the other a clear and unvarnished explanation."
While the hunter was speaking, the old man fixed upon him a look whichflashed fire from under his half-closed eyelids. When he ceased, theTigercat smiled ironically.
"The wolf's cub feels he is cutting his teeth, and wants to bite hisfosterer."
"He will devour him without hesitation, if it be needful," fiercelyreplied the hunter, as he let the butt end of the heavy rifle hecarried in his hand fall violently on the ground.
Instead of being lashed into a fury by a menace uttered soperemptorily, the Tigercat suddenly became calm. His austere featureslighted up with an expression of good nature which rarely visited them.Clapping his large hands together gaily, he exclaimed, with an air oflively satisfaction:
"Well roared, my lion's whelp! _iVive Dios!_ You deserve your name,Stoneheart! The more I see of you, the more I love you. I am proud ofyou, _muchacho;_ for you are my handiwork, and I congratulate myself onmy success in producing so complete a monster. Go on as you have begun,my son: I prophesy, you will go far."
The tone in which these words were pronounced by the Tigercat clearlyproved that they were in reality the unreserved expression of histhoughts.
Stoneheart--for at last we know the name of this man--listened to hisfather with a shrug of his shoulders, and an affectation of disdain.When the latter ceased, the son replied as follows:
"Will you listen to me or not?"
"Certainly, my darling child. Speak! Tell me what frets you."
"Seek not to dupe me, gray-haired demon. I know your hellish malignity,and your unmatchable knavery."
"You are complimentary, _muchacho._"
"Answer frankly and categorically the questions I will put to you!"
"Bah, Bah! Go on, go on. What are you afraid of?"
"Of nothing, I tell you; but my time is short: I have no leisure tofollow you through all the Indian circumlocutions it may be yourpleasure to invent. That is why I listen to nothing but the plaintruth."
"I cannot bind myself to that until I hear the questions you wish toput."
"Take heed, father! If you deceive me, I shall find it out, and then--"
"And then?" repeated the old man mockingly.
"May the devil take my soul, if I do not plant my bowie knife betweenyour two shoulders."
"You forget that two can play at that game."
"So much the better; it will be a strife and I prefer it."
"You are not fastidious. But proceed; speak, or may the pestilencestifle you! I am listening. I, too, have no more time to lose than you."
Stoneheart, who up to this moment had been standing erect in the middleof the cell, seated himself on a bison's skull, and rested his rifleacross his knees.
"Did you not expect to see Zopilote when I burst into your cell?"
"I did expect Zopilote: you have guessed it, _muchacho._"
"Having finished, with his assistance, the ruffianly deeds of yesterdayand today, you two are anxious to concoct the treason you meditatetomorrow."
"On my soul, _muchacho_, you are incomprehensible!"
"The devil I am! Then your apprehension is dull today."
"Perhaps it is: but oblige me by explaining your meaning."
"I will; however, attempt no denial: only a few minutes ago I learnedthe whole story through the gossiping of the very men who were withyou."
"If you know all, why do you come here to question me?"
"In the first place, to ascertain if they spoke truly."
"They could not speak more truly: you see, I am frank."
"Then you really did surprise these travellers in their sleep?"
"Yes, _muchacho_, like a litter of prairie dogs in their earth."
"You stole their horses and baggage?"
"In good truth, I did all that."
"Afterwards, you had them carried into the thick of the forest, to diea frightful death?"
"I did have them carried to the forest; but not, as you pretend tobelieve, for the purpose of leaving them to starve."
"For what other purpose, then? I cannot suppose it was with theintention of effacing all traces of the robbery. You care little aboutsuch precautions, and do not stick at a knife thrust."
"Admirably reasoned, _muchacho_. I had no intention to do thesetravellers the least harm in the world."
"Then what did you want from them? I cannot understand your conduct. Itis marvellous."
"Confess that it mystifies you, my son."
"It does; but will you explain?"
"That depends upon circumstances. But now promise, in your turn, toanswer a single question."
"One? I will answer it. Ask; I am listening."
"What do you think of Dona He
rmosa? Has she not beautiful eyes! Onewould think she had stolen a piece of the sky, they are so blue."
At this home-thrust Stoneheart recoiled; a sudden flush tinted hisfeatures.
"Why do you ask me?" said he hesitatingly.
"What does that matter? Answer, as you have promised."
"I have scarcely looked at her," he replied, with increasingembarrassment.
"You lie, my son: you have looked at her often enough; or young menin these days are changed from what they were in my time--which I canhardly believe." "Well, then, I have; and I care not who knows it,"said Stoneheart, in a voice in which embarrassment was mingled with illhumour. "I have looked at Dona Hermosa, if that is her name, and havefound her beautiful. Are you satisfied?"
"Almost. Has this charming creature had no other effect upon you?"
"I am not bound to answer you, father: that is a second question."
"You are right; nevertheless, I know what your reply would be. I candispense with it."
Stoneheart turned away his head to escape the searching look of theTigercat.
"But now," said he, after a momentary silence, "let us return to yourexplanation."
"You are an ingrate, who will not understand. Have you not alreadydiscovered that all this business has been undertaken for your sakealone?"
Stoneheart started with surprise.
"For my sake? Is there anything in common between this girl and me? Youare laughing at me!"
"Not in the least; on the contrary, I am speaking seriously."
"Even if you do, I confess I am still in the dark."
"Aha! You are laughing now at my expense. Throughout the whole of thiscomedy I assign you a capital part to play: I make you interesting; Iintroduce you as the deliverer; are you still in the dark?"
"I myself assumed the character which you say you assigned me; Iadopted it myself, alone, without any interference of yours."
"Do you believe that, my son?" said the bandit, with a grin.
Stoneheart, not thinking it necessary to insist on this point, answered:
"I will admit that you may have arranged all that happened; butwhat are your intentions towards the travellers now they are in the_teocali?_"
"On my honour, _muchacho_, I confess that it is not settled yet; itdepends entirely on yourself."
"On me?" stammered the other.
"Yes; on my honour. Reflect; decide what you wish me to do: I give youmy word that I will conform to your wishes."
"Will you swear so, father,--solemnly swear?"
"Oh, yes. You see, I am very accommodating."
"It is exactly this pliancy, so foreign to your character and habits,which makes me tremble."
"Folly! What more unjust suspicion! It happens one day that I rememberI am man; that it is my duty to succour my fellow creatures: and yougive me no credit for it!"
"_iCaspita!_ How could it be otherwise? Your intrigues are so dark,the means you employ are so utterly at variance with common usage insimilar cases, that, in spite of my knowledge of your character, thereal object of your machinations perpetually eludes me."
The visage of the Tigercat lighted up once more with a smile oftriumph; but he repressed it immediately, and assumed a look ofpaternal benevolence.
"In spite of all you say," he answered, "my object in this case is soplain that a child might see it."
"Then I must be an idiot, for I cannot divine it; on which account, Imust beg you to explain your wishes frankly."
"To make you adore the little one, _ivive Cristo!_"
"Me!" exclaimed the hunter, astounded at the proposition, and purplewith blushes.
"And whom else, if not you?--unless it were myself."
"No, no," said the other, shaking his head mournfully; "that isimpossible: everything separates us. You have forgotten who she is; youhave forgotten what I am--I, Stoneheart, the man whose name, pronouncedto an inhabitant of the borders, makes him thrill with terror. No; itis the dream of a fool: a love like that would be monstrous. I repeat,it is impossible."
The Tigercat coolly shrugged his shoulders.
"My son," said he, "you have yet much to learn concerning thatmany-sided being, that graceful compound of angel and devil, thatwhimsical mixture of all good qualities and all vices, the world callswoman. Be quite sure, my son, that since the time of mother Eve, womanhas never changed; there are the same treasons, the same perfidies,still the same feline nature of the tiger, mingled with the no lesstortuous ways of the serpent. Woman must be quelled by the bold, orshe will busy herself with the hope of quelling him; she will alwaysdespise the man for whom, in her secret heart, she feels no fear, andfor whom she entertains no involuntary respect. Your chances of winningthe heart of Hermosa, and installing yourself therein as master, arenumberless; you are proscribed, and your name is a name of terror. Oh,my boy, love lives upon contrasts, knows no disparities, and despisesthe barrier raised by human vanity. The man most sure to succeed witha woman is precisely the only one whom, in the eyes of the world, sheought to repel the most."
"Enough of this theme!" cried the hunter violently; "Your horribletheories have already troubled my soul, and harrowed my heart. Let usstop this conversation, of which I am weary. Again, I ask, what areyour intentions towards your prisoners?"
"I repeat, that it depends entirely upon yourself; they are in yourhands."
"If that be the case, they shall not stay long in your hideous lair;tomorrow, at daybreak, they shall go."
"Just what I wish, my son."
"I myself will be their guide. You will restore everything you havetaken from them--horses and baggage."
"You shall restore them yourself; you can easily invent a story forreturning what belongs to them which shall not compromise me."
"Compromise you!" sneered Stoneheart.
"By our Lady," replied the Tigercat, with a hideous smile, "I stick tothe only good deed of my life; I will not lose the credit of it."
"Then all is agreed between us; you will not break your word to me?"
"Rest in peace; I will not break it."
"Then, good-bye, till tomorrow. I go to make everything ready."
"Good night, my son. Do not take that trouble; I take it upon myself."
And the two men separated.
The Tigercat listened attentively to the sound of his son's footstepsas they died away in the distance. When silence was completelyre-established, he shook his head more than once with a preoccupied air.
"Love makes him shrewd," he murmured in a suppressed voice. "I will notleave him leisure to divine my plans, or, at the moment it is within myreach, he would frustrate the vengeance I have been so many years inpreparing."
Instead of retiring to his couch, the old man seized the torch, andwent forth from his cell.
In the meanwhile, in spite of the fears naturally caused by theirprecarious position in the midst of people whose ferocious looks andbrutal manners spoke little in their favour, the travellers had passedthe night in tranquillity. No sound of evil augury had disturbedtheir repose; and, worn out by fatigue, and wearied with the variousemotions of this day of misfortunes, after a short conversation, theysettled themselves to sleep.
Dona Hermosa, on waking at daybreak, found herself perfectly free fromthe sufferings of the preceding day. Thanks to the remedy applied bythe hunter to the wound, the place where she was bitten, now the venomwas expressed, began to heal; she felt sufficient strength to resumeher journey on horseback, and would be able to travel without toomuch fatigue. These good news dispersed the clouds which obscured theforehead of the _hacendero_, and he awaited, with lively impatience,the meeting with his host, which he had no doubt would not be longdeferred. In fact, as soon as the Tigercat supposed that those to whomhe had afforded shelter were awake, he presented himself before them toinquire how they had passed the night.
The _hacendero_ thanked him warmly, assured him they were quite well,and that Dona Hermosa herself felt almost restored to health.
"So much the better
," replied the Tigercat, casting a glance of fire atthe girl. "It were a pity so charming a creature should perish in sucha miserable manner. And now, what are your intentions? Be not offendedat this question; I shall be happy to keep you at my side; and thelonger you remain here, the greater my pleasure."
"Thanks for your gracious offer," said Don Pedro; "unfortunately,I dare not accept it: they will be uneasy on our account at the_hacienda_, and I must hasten in person to put an end to their alarm."
"You are right. Then you intend to depart?"
"As soon as I can; unhappily, I have no horses for the few leagues ofthe journey. I must put your hospitality still further to the test,although I hardly know how to thank you for what you have done already,by requesting you to sell me the animals I require to return home;at the same time, I would also crave a guide, to lead us through theforest which had nearly proved our tomb, and to put us once more on ourright road. You see, _caballero_, that I make great demands on yourcourtesy."
"You only ask of me what is your right, senor; I will exert myself tofulfil your wishes. But how did it happen that you found yourself onfoot in the virgin forest, so far from any habitations?"
The _hacendero_ cast a furtive glance over the speaker; but thefeatures of the latter continued immovable. Don Pedro then recountedall the details of the strange attack of which he had been the victim.
The Tigercat listened calmly, without interrupting him, saying, as soonas the recital was finished:
"All this seems very incomprehensible. I am annoyed at not havingreceived this information yesterday evening. It is very late, now;but leave me to do what I can. Perhaps I may be able to cause yourlost property to be restored to you; at all events I will furnish youwith the means of reaching your _hacienda_. Entertain no fears on thatscore. I presume you would not like to leave this place before you havebroken your fast; you can begin your journey as soon after breakfast asyou please. I must leave you for a short time, to give the necessaryorders for your departure. Excuse me. In an hour's time you shall hearfrom me again."
Having said this, he retired; leaving the travellers in astonishment,and perplexed as to his true character so easily did this man vary bothmanner and language.
An hour and a half passed over without Don Pedro receiving any newsof his host. At the end of that time an Indian appeared, and withoututtering a word, made a sign to the travellers to follow him. Theyobeyed without hesitation.
After following him for some minutes, they found themselves on thesummit of the _teocali_ which the evening before, under the silver raysof the moon, they had taken for a hill.
From this elevation the travellers commanded an immense extent ofhorizon, and enjoyed a magnificent landscape, still partially veiledby the mists of morning, but illumined here and there by the dazzlingsunbeams, which produced the most striking effects amongst this chaosof trees and mountains intersecting the boundless prairies.
The morning repast was prepared on a mound of turf, covered over withthe large leaves of the mahogany.
The Tigercat standing by the mound, was waiting for his guests. Someredskins, few in number, and scattered here and there about theplatform, all armed, and in their war paint, were walking about withseeming indifference, and taking no apparent note of the presence ofthe strangers.
"I have preferred to have the meal served here," said the Tigercat,"where you can enjoy the magnificent prospect."
Don Pedro thanked him; and, at his repeated invitation, sat down by themound with his daughter and Don Luciano. The _peones_ ate by themselves.
The repast was frugal. It consisted of fritters, with red pepper,_tasajo_ (sun-dried beef), a few slices of venison, and rolls madeof maize flour, the whole washed down with _eau de smilax_ and_pulque_,--a spirit prepared from a species of aloe. It was a truehunter's meal.
"Eat and drink," said the Tigercat; "you have a long journey beforeyou."
"Will you not honour us by partaking of the repast you have gallantlyoffered us?" said Don Pedro, seeing that the old man continued standing.
"You must excuse me, _caballero_," replied the Tigercat civilly, butperemptorily. "I broke my fast long ago."
"Indeed!" said the _hacendero_, not content with the answer; "Then, atleast, you will consent to empty this horn of _pulque_ to my health."
"It grieves me to refuse you, senor; but it is impossible!" and hebowed.
These repeated refusals caused a sudden coolness between the guestsand their host, in spite of the apparent graciousness of the old man'shospitality,--for the Americans of New Spain resemble the Arabs inthis, that they only consent to eat and drink with those towards whomtheir intentions are friendly.
A vague suspicion crossed the mind of Don Pedro; and he lookedinquiringly at his host, but could see nothing in the smiling face ofthe old man to justify his apprehension.
The repast was eaten silently. At its termination, Dona Hermosa, afterthanking the Tigercat for his profuse hospitality, asked him if, beforeshe left, she could not see the hunter who had rendered her suchinvaluable service the evening before.
"He is absent at present, senorita,--absent in your service; but Iexpect him to return immediately."
The dona was about to ask for an explanation of these words, when asound, resembling distant thunder, arose in the forest, and grew louderand louder every minute.
"And here," continued the Tigercat, "comes the very man whom youdesired to see; he will be with you directly. The noise you hear iscaused by the galloping of the horses he brings with him."