CHAPTER XIV.
THE FORTRESS.
"Quick, quick!" the count cried, springing up, "let us secure thegeneral."
"One instant!" said Curumilla, phlegmatically; "the odds are not equal,let my brother look."
At the moment a crowd of Indians debouched from the defile. But thesewore a good countenance. Marching in close older, they withdrew step bystep, not like cowards who fled, but like warriors proudly abandoninga field of battle which they contested no longer, but retreated fromin good order. As a rearguard a platoon of a hundred men sustainedthis brave retreat. All at once a fusillade broke out with a sinisterhissing, and some Chilian horsemen appeared, charging at speed.
The Indians, without giving way an inch, received them on the pointsof their long lances. Most of the fugitives scattered over the plainhad rallied to their companions and faced the enemy. There was duringa few minutes a hand-to-hand fight, in which our adventurers wishedto take a part. Four shots were suddenly fired from the temporaryfortress, the summit of which was covered with a wreath of smoke. Thetwo Indian chiefs rolled upon the ground. The Araucanos uttered a loudcry of terror and rage, and rushed forward to prevent the carrying offof their fallen chiefs. But with the quickness of lightning Antinahueland Black Stag abandoned their horses and sprang up, brandishing theirweapons, and shouting their war cry.
The Chilians, whose intention was only to drive back their enemiesout of the defile, retired in good older, and soon disappeared. TheAraucanos continued their retreat.
General Bustamente had disappeared some time before.
"We can continue our route," said Don Tadeo rising. "You see the plainis clear; the Araucanos and the Chilians have retired each their ownway.
"There are too many eyes concealed there," said Curumilla, pointing tothe forest.
"You are mistaken, chief," Don Tadeo objected; "the Araucanos have beenbeaten. Why should they persist in remaining here, where they have nolonger anything to do?"
"My father is not acquainted with the warriors of my nation," Curumillareplied; "they never leave enemies behind them, when they have any hopeof destroying them."
"Which means?" Don Tadeo interrupted.
"That Antinahuel has been wounded, and will not depart withoutvengeance."
Don Tadeo was struck with the just reasoning of the Indian.
"For all that, we cannot remain here," said the young man. "It isincontestable that in a few days we shall fall into the hands of thesedemons."
"Yes," said Curumilla.
"Well, I confess," the count continued, "that this prospect is notflattering. But I think there exists no position so bad that men cannotbe extricated from."
"Does my brother know any means?" the Ulmen asked.
"In two hours night will be here. Then, when the Indians have fallenasleep, we will depart silently."
"Indians do not sleep," said Curumilla, coolly.
"The devil!" the young man exclaimed; "if it must be so, we will passover their dead bodies."
"I allow," said Don Tadeo, "that this plan does not appear to meabsolutely hopeless, I think, towards the middle of the night we mighttry to put it into execution."
"Good!" replied Curumilla, "I will act as my brothers please."
Since the departure of Valentine in the morning, the four men had nothad time to eat, and hunger began to assert its claims, therefore theytook advantage of the repose the enemy allowed them to satisfy it. Therepast consisted of nothing but harina tostada soaked in water--ratherpoor food, but which want of better made our adventurers thinkexcellent.
They were abundantly furnished with provisions--in fact, by economizingthem, they had enough for a fortnight; but all the water they possesseddid not exceed six leather bottles full, therefore it was thirst whichthey had most to dread.
The sun declined rapidly towards the horizon; the sky, by degrees,assumed the darkest line; the tops of the distant mountains became lostin thick clouds of mist--in short, everything announced that nightwould shortly cover the earth.
A troop composed of fifty Chilian lancers issued from the defile; ongaining the plain they diverged slightly to the left, and took theroute that led to Santiago.
"They are palefaces," said Curumilla, coolly.
These horsemen formed the escort which Don Gregorio had assigned to DonRamon, to accompany him to Santiago. All at once a horrible war cry,repeated by the echoes of the Quebradas, resounded close to them, and acloud of Araucanos assailed them on all sides at once.
The Spaniards, taken by surprise, and terrified by the suddennessof the attack, offered but a feeble resistance. The Indians pursuedthem inveterately, and soon all were killed or taken. Then, as if byenchantment. Indians and Chilians all disappeared, and the plain oncemore became calm and solitary.
"Well," said Curumilla to Don Tadeo, "what does my father think now.Have the Indians gone?"
"You are right, chief, I cannot but allow. Alas!" he added, "who willsave my daughter?"
"I will, please Heaven!" cried the count. "Listen to me. We havecommitted the incredible folly of thrusting ourselves into thisrathole; we must get out, cost what it may; if Valentine were here hisinventive genius would find us means, I am convinced. I will bring himback with me."
"Yes," said Curumilla, "my paleface brothers are right; our friend isindispensable to us: a man shall go, but that man shall he Joan."
With his knife Curumilla cut off a piece of his poncho, about fourfingers in width, and gave it to Joan, saying--"My son will give thisto Trangoil-Lanec, that he may know from whom he comes."
"Good!" said Joan; "where shall I find the chief?"
"In the tolderia of San Miguel."
The three men shook hands with him warmly. The Indian bowed, and beganto descend. By the last glimpses of daylight they saw him creep alongto the first trees of the mountain of Corcovado; when there, he turnedround, waved his hand to them, and disappeared in the high grass. Agunshot, then, almost immediately followed by a second, resounded inthe direction taken by their emissary.
"He is dead!" the count cried in despair.
"Perhaps he is!" replied Curumilla, after some hesitation; "but mybrother may now perceive that we are really surrounded."
"That is true!" Don Tadeo murmured. And he let his head sink down intohis hands.