CHAPTER XL.
AHAUCANIAN DIPLOMACY.
Antinahuel had not remained long inactive. Scarce had GeneralBustamente's escort disappeared in the cloud of dust, ere he remountedhis horse, and, followed by all the Araucano chiefs, crossed the river.When he arrived on the other bank, he planted his lance in the ground,and turned towards the herald who was beside him, ready to execute hisorders.
"Let the three toquis, the Ulmens, and the Apo-Ulmens meet here in anhour," he said; "the fire of council shall be lighted on this spot for agrand council. Begone!"
The herald bowed down to his horse's neck and set off at full speed.Antinahuel cast a glance around him. All the chiefs had regained theirhuts; one warrior alone remained. On perceiving him a smile stole overthe lips of the toqui. This warrior was a man of lofty stature, proudcarriage, and haughty countenance, whose piercing look conveyed a fierceand cruel expression. He appeared to be in the prime of life, that is tosay, about forty years of age; he wore a poncho of exceedingly fine lamawool, striped with striking colours, while the long silver-headed canewhich he held in his hand proclaimed him an Apo-Ulmen. He replied to thetoqui's smile by a look of intelligence, and, bending to his ear, said,with an accent of gratified hatred--
"When the cougars tear each other to pieces, they prepare a rich quarryfor the eagles of the Andes."
"The Puelches are eagles," Antinahuel replied; "they are masters of theother side of the mountains; they leave to the Huiliche women the careof weaving their ponchos."
At this sarcasm, launched against the Huiliches, a fraction of theAraucano people, who devote themselves principally to agriculture andthe breeding of cattle, the Apo-Ulmen frowned.
"My father is severe with his sons," he said, in a husky voice.
"The Black-Stag is a formidable chief in his nation," Antinahuelremarked, in a conciliatory tone; "he is the first of the Apo-Ulmensof the province of the maritime country. His heart is Puelche; my soulrejoices when he is at my side. Why is it that the Ulmens are not of thesame temper as he?"
"My brother has explained the reason. Obliged to live in continual traderelations with the miserable Spaniards, the tribes of the flat countryhave laid down the lance to take up the pickaxe: they have becomecultivators; but let not my father be deceived,--the old spirit of theirrace still dwells within them, and on the day when they are called on tofight for their independence, all will rise at once to punish those whowould attempt to enslave them."
"Can that be true?" Antinahuel cried, stopping his horse short, andlooking in the speaker's face; "may they be depended upon?"
"What is the use of speaking of the subject at this moment?" said theApo-Ulmen, with a bantering smile; "has not my father just come fromrenewing the treaties with the palefaces?"
"That is true," said the toqui, darting a keen look at the Indianwarrior: "peace is secured for a long time."
"My father is a wise chief, that which he does is well done," the otherreplied, casting down his eyes.
Antinahuel was preparing to reply, when an Indian arrived at full speed,and, with a prodigy of skill which these matchless horsemen alonecan execute, he stopped suddenly before the two chiefs, and stood asmotionless as a statue of bronze. The panting sides of his horse, whichejected clouds from his nostrils, and was spotted with white foam,showed that he had ridden far and fast. Antinahuel looked at him for aninstant.
"My son Theg-teg--the thunderer--has made a rapid journey."
"I have executed the orders of my father."
At these words, out of politeness, the Apo-Ulmen pressed the sides ofhis horse to retire, but Antinahuel laid his hand upon his arm.
"Black-Stag may remain," he said; "is he not my friend?"
"I will remain if my father wishes it," the chief answered, quietly.
"Let him remain, then; his brother has no secrets from him;" and turningto the still motionless warrior, he added, "my brother can speak."
"The Chiaplos are fighting," the latter replied; "they have dug up thehatchet and turned it against their own breasts."
"Oh!" the toqui exclaimed with feigned astonishment; "my brother must bemistaken, the palefaces are not cougars, to devour each other."
And he turned towards Black-Stag, with a smile of undefinable expression.
"Theg-teg is not mistaken," the Indian warrior replied, gravely; "hiseyes have seen clearly: the stone tolderia, which the palefaces callValdivia, is at this moment a more ardent furnace than the volcano ofAutaco, which serves as a retreat for Guecubu, the genius of evil."
"Good!" the toqui remarked, coldly, "my son has seen well; he is awarrior brave in battle, but he is likewise prudent; did he stand apartto rejoice, without seeking to learn which side prevailed?"
"Theg-teg is prudent, but when he looks he means to see; he knows all,my father may question him."
"Good! the great warrior of the palefaces set out from here to fly tothe help of his soldiers; the advantage is with him."
The Indian smiled, but made no reply.
"Let my brother speak!" Antinahuel resumed; "the toqui of his nationinterrogates him."
"He whom my brother names as the great warrior of the palefaces, is theprisoner of his enemies; his soldiers are dispersed like grains of wheatscattered over the field."
"Wah!" Antinahuel cried with feigned anger, "my brother has a lyingtongue, what he says cannot be true; does the eagle become the prey ofthe owl? The great warrior has an arm strong as the thunder of Pillian.Nothing can resist it."
"That arm, however powerful, has not been able to save him; the eagleis captive: the courageous puma was surprised by cunning foxes; he hasfallen, treacherously overcome, into the snare they had laid before hisfeet."
"But his soldiers? the great toqui of the whites had a numerous army."
"I have told my father; the chief being made captive, the soldiers,bewildered and struck with fear by Guecubu, fell beneath the blows oftheir angry enemies."
"The chiefs who were conquerors, no doubt, pursued them."
"What for? The palefaces are women without courage: as soon as theirenemies weep and pray for pardon they forgive them."
At this news the toqui could not repress a movement of impatience, buthe soon recovered himself.
"Brothers ought not to be inexorable," he said, "when they lift thehatchet against each other: they may wound a friend without wishing it.The pale warriors have done well."
The Indian bowed if as assenting.
"What are the palefaces doing now?" the chief continued.
"They are assembled round the council fire."
"Good! They are wise men. I am satisfied with my son," Antinahueladded, with a gracious smile; "he is a warrior, as skilful as brave;he may retire, and take the repose necessary after so long a journey.""Theg-teg is not fatigued; his life is my father's," the warrior saidwith a bow; "he may dispose of it at his pleasure."
"Antinahuel will remember his son," the toqui said with a sign ofdismissal.
The Indian bowed respectfully to his chief, and pressing his kneeswhilst shortening the bridle, he made his horse perform a curvet,brought it to the ground with an extraordinary bound, and went offcaracoling. The toqui looked after him in apparent abstraction; thenaddressing the Apo-Ulmen--
"What does my brother think of that which this man has said?" he asked.
"My father is the wisest of the toquis of his nation, the chief the mostvenerated by the Araucanian tribes; Pillian will breathe words into hismind which will mount to his lips, and which we shall listen to withrespect," Black-Stag replied, evasively, fearing to compromise himselfby too frank a reply.
"My brother is right," the toqui said, with a haughty glance; "I have mynymph!"
The Apo-Ulmen bowed with an air of conviction. We beg our readers toobserve, with regard to this expression, which for the first timehas fallen from our pen, that in the Araucanian mythology, besidesan infinite number of gods and goddesses, there are what are calledspiritual nymphs, who perform towards man the office of f
amiliar genii.There is not a renowned chief among the Araucanos who does not glorifyhimself with the idea of having one of these in his service. Hence,what Antinahuel said, instead of disturbing Black-Stag, gave him, onthe contrary, a greater veneration for his chief; for he also flatteredhimself with having a familiar spirit at his command, although he didnot dare to proclaim it aloud. At this moment the Araucanian drums andtrumpets sounded loudly--the _chasquis_ were calling the chiefs tocouncil.
"What will my father do?" asked the Apo-Ulmen.
"Man is weak," Antinahuel replied; "but Pillian loves his sons, theMoluchos, he will inspire the words I shall pronounce; my only desire isthe happiness of the Araucano nation."
"My father has convoked the great Auca-coyog of the nation; did he thensuspect the news he has just received?"
"Antinahuel knows everything," he answered, with a smile.
"Good! I know what my father thinks."
"Perhaps."
"Let my father remember the words I have spoken."
"My ears are open, my son may repeat them,"
"When cougars tear each other to pieces, they prepare a rich quarry forthe eagles of the Andes."
"Good!" said Antinahuel, with a laugh; "my son is a great chief, let himfollow me to the Auca-coyog, the warriors are waiting for us."
The two warriors exchanged a look of undefinable meaning; these two men,so cunning and dissimulating, had compromised themselves to each otherwithout avowing anything. They directed their course at a gallop towardsthe spot where the principal chiefs awaited them, drawn up in a circlearound a fierce fire, the smoke of which ascended in graceful eddiestowards heaven.