CHAPTER XV.
PROPOSALS.
Don Tadeo and his companions set to work to fortify themselves. Theyraised a sort of wall, by piling stones upon one another to the heightof eight feet; and as in that country the dews are very heavy, by meansof Curumilla's lance, and that of Joan, which he had left behind him,they established something like a tent, by stretching upon them twoponchos.
These labours occupied the greater part of the night. Towards threeo'clock in the morning Curumilla approached his two companions, whowere struggling in vain against the sleep and fatigue that oppressedthem.
"My brothers can sleep for a few hours," he said.
The two men threw themselves down on the horsecloths and very soon werefast asleep. Curumilla now glided down the declivity of the rocks, andarrived at the base of the fortress.
The chief took off his poncho, stretched himself on the ground, andcovered himself with it. This precaution being taken, he took hismechero from his belt, and struck the flint without fearing, thanks tothe means of concealment he had adopted, that the sparks should be seenin the darkness. As soon as he had procured a light, he collected somedry leaves at the foot of a bush, blew patiently to kindle the firetill the smoke had assumed a certain consistency, then crept away as hehad come, and regained the summit of the rocks. His companions stillslept.
"Hugh!" he said to himself, with satisfaction, "we need not now beafraid that the marksmen will hide in the bushes beneath us."
Shortly a red light gleamed through the darkness, which increased bydegrees. The flames gained so rapidly that the summit of the mountainappeared almost immediately to be on fire.
The object Curumilla had proposed to himself was attained; places whichan hour before had offered excellent shelter had become completelyexposed. Don Tadeo and the count, awakened by the cries of the Indians,naturally thought an attack was being made, and hastily joined theUlmen.
"Eh!" said Don Tadeo, "who lighted this bonfire?"
"I!" Curumilla replied; "see how the half-roasted bandits are scuttlingaway!"
His two companions took part in his glee.
From want of aliment, the fire was extinguished as rapidly as it hadbeen lighted, and the adventurers turned their eyes towards the plain.They uttered a simultaneous cry of surprise and alarm. By the firstrays of the rising sun, and the dying flames of the conflagration, theyperceived an Indian camp surrounded by a wide ditch.
"Hum!" said the count, "I do not see how we shall extricate ourselves."
"Look there!" Don Tadeo exclaimed, "it seems as if they wanted todemand a parley. Let us hear what they have to say."
Several men had left the camp, and these men were unarmed. One of them,with his right hand, waved over his head one of those starred flagswhich serve the Araucanos as standards.
"Let one of you come down," a voice shouted, which Don Tadeo recognisedas that of General Bustamente, "in order that we may lay before you ourconditions."
"If one of us descends," said the count, "will he be at liberty torejoin his companions if your proposals are not accepted?"
"Yes," the general replied, "on the honour of a soldier."
"I will come," the young man cried.
He then laid down his arms, and with the activity of a chamois, leapedfrom rock to rock and at the end of five minutes found himself face toface with the leaders of the enemy. They were four: Antinahuel, BlackStag, Bustamente and another. The general and Antinahuel had wounds inthe head and the breast, while Black Stag wore his arm in a sling.
"Caballero," said Don Pancho, with a half smile, "the sun is very hothere; are you willing to follow us to the camp? You have nothing tofear."
"Senor," the young man replied, haughtily, "I fear nothing--my actionsmight satisfy you of that. I will follow."
"If you are afraid, senor," said the general, "you can return."
"General," retorted the young man, haughtily. "I have your word ofhonour, besides which there is one thing you are ignorant of."
"What is that, senor?"
"That I am a Frenchman, general."
"Your hand, senor," he said; "you are a brave young man, and it willnot be my fault, I swear to you, if you do not go back satisfied."
The five personages now proceeded silently for several minutes throughthe camp, till they came to a tent much larger than the rest, wherea number of long lances tied together, with scarlet pennons at theirpoints, stuck in the ground, denoted that it was the hut of a chief.Buffalo skulls, lying here and there, served as seats. In one corner,upon a heap of dry leaves, reclined a woman, with her head envelopedin bandages. This was the Linda. She appeared to be sleeping. On theentrance of the party, however, a flash of her wild-looking eye gleamedthrough the darkness of the hut.
Everyone seated himself, as well as he could, upon a skull. When allwere placed, the general said, in a short, clear manner--
"Now, then, senor, let us know upon what conditions you will agree tosurrender?"
"Your pardon, senor," the young man answered; "we do not agree tosurrender on any conditions whatever. It is you who have proposals tomake."