CHAPTER XIII.
THE BEAUTIFUL PRISONER'S FRIEND.
In quick, clear tones, the double playing lieutenant of the prairiepirate resumed his speech.
"A full explanation about me would lead us afar, so come to theessential point," said he. "To begin with, when you want to ask or tellme something, let Drudge know it. He is completely devoted to you."
"I know that, senor."
"And as we must look ahead, it being likely that Captain Kidd maybe in a whim, or for good reasons forbid you visitors, here is alittle scroll in Spanish, with what is called a Table of Second SightSignals, used by conjurors. The questions are innocent and commonplaceenough, but they stand for phrases of meaning. You can address me thusdirect on the march, and not a soul can suspect we are carrying on acorrespondence."
"I'll soon have that by heart, senor," she exclaimed.
"And teach this young friend the same. The captain will have his workcut out with two women leagued against him and a spy in the garrison,I promise you. Nevertheless, you must bear in mind that patience andstratagem will alone bring us success. Keep up your bearing of disliketo me, in order that nobody can guess we are secretly in tie."
"Understanding all the importance of that advice, I shall conform toit."
"Captain Kidd is sly, and at the faintest hint of our relations, itwould be all over with me."
"I shall obey you in all ways, senor, and you shall be satisfied withyour pupil," she said, gently, but firmly.
"One question: what is Captain Kidd's behaviour towards you?"
"So, so; his is an overbearing character of self-will, and he isinsensible to sentiment; often days pass without his thinking to throwa word, good, bad or indifferent towards me; but I must honestlyconfess that he never forgets the respect due to my sex, age, andeducation. However impulsive, absurdly freakish, and even passionate hemight be too, many a daughter is less ill treated than me his prisoner."
"It's a comfort to learn that there is one bright spot in that darkheart. My plans as regards him depend on the information I heap up. Sotell me if you ever knew the captain before he stole you away from yourboarding school at New Orleans, kept by the Misses Featherley?"
"I really cannot answer you with a certainty, senor. Still, there isnow and then a tone of his voice, and even a look of his eyes (which Iremarked to be very strong to require spectacles) not altogether new tome. I may be deceiving myself as to that, but I am pretty sure that heis disguised more or less."
"If he were known to you in your earliest years, where would that be?"
"Why, senor, as I speak Spanish and English as if they were born inme, having only had to acquire French at New Orleans, I have alwaysbelieved what was told me, that my father was an English merchant,who married a Mexican lady, and that I lost both of them by an Indianattack."
"Who introduced you at that school, where the terms were high, I haveheard say?"
"It was, indeed, a fashionable seminary. I was an orphan, true, butsome near kinsman was taking care of my future."
"Who was this?"
"I never saw him, and his steward only once. I cannot even describehim, but an elder schoolmate pictured him as a middle-aged man, stoutand strong, not particularly tall, stern and dark, with a shifting eyeand rough skin."
"And his name?"
"This _major-domo_ was called Mathias Corvino. One of the MissFeatherleys told me that he had become an independent gentleman, andlived in New York in great style."
"Do you suppose that in the husk of Captain Kidd could abide this sameMathias Corvino, senorita?"
"I have not the skill to say so, but when the captain is angry, I amreminded of that man."
"Your information is to the point, and has its value. Well, whateverthe disguise of our friend the captain, depend upon it that in time Ishall have him at bay, and he will show his real traitorous face!"
"And now, may I just put one question to you, senor?"
"Go ahead."
"You know many things," she observed, very gravely, and lapsing intoEnglish unwittingly. "Pray tell me, have I parents, have I kinsfolk?"
"Yes. A mother, no; a father, yes--if he has not passed away during ayear. A brother younger than you too!"
"A brother! Oh, tell me about him."
"I am sorry to say that I am quite ignorant of the fate of your brotherLewis."
"Lewis!"
"But you must not despair, senorita. Mark this, whatever mishap yourbrother ran, you have been watched by at least one friend of yourfather's, and had the villain who abducted you from your home attemptedto suppress you by murder, an avenger, if not a defender, would haveappeared by your side in the New Mexican gentleman named Don GregorioPeralta."
"I know him, the grey headed gentleman who spoke to me when the schoolwas out on promenade. He told me he was my friend. Where is he? Praytell me."
"The accomplices of your abductor tried to kill him to prevent CaptainKidd being followed. His wound, however, was serious without beingmortal. I will warrant that, as soon as he could fork a steed, he setout on the pursuit of you."
"Oh, then you hope he will overtake us?"
"He or another will be at our side soon," answered the falselieutenant, ambiguously.
"You are not trifling with me?"
"I am not that kind of Wolverine," answered Master Corkey Joe with aforced laugh. "I say Don Gregorio, spite of his age, is on our track,because he loved your father. Your father is also afoot, and, at lastaccounts, hoped to enlist in his aid some mountain trappers. Theyare not sordid men--often have they been known to lay aside a wholeseason's harvest of incredible toil to rescue a man or woman of theircolour from the red men, or to flock to the border when the cry of anIndian outbreak commanded all gun bearers to fill a loophole in theforts. But this troop which surrounds us is bent on a mission hostileto the first explorers of this region, and its stores of fiery spiritand ammunition are intended to be sold to the Indians, clean counterto the laws of the United States and British Dominion, and to theregulations of the fur trade companies. So Captain Kidd's organisationis doomed! And you must be saved when it is crushed."
"Have I, indeed, friends in this vast loneliness?"
"In the midst of those mountains draped in untrodden snows, in thoseunfathomable canyons, upon the plain and within the caverns thatprofoundly tunnel the glaciers, upwards of fifty brave, strong, andhonest men, are invisibly repeating my call to them."
"Your calls?"
"I have been talking to them whilst we were conversing here."
"I do not understand, senor."
"On these immense wastes, the voice is insignificant, but the clear airallows the vision to travel far. Not only is there one general code ofsignals by fire at night and smoke by day, but the trappers, who arenow independent since the ruin of the American fur companies, retain inuse the alphabet they employed. Since the captain left me control ofthe camp, I have had the fires placed as I chose, and their position asthe columns of smoke ascend has telegraphed for miles around that oneof their allies--I--is here in want of assistance. Not a soul suspectsit, but already I am sure some of the hunters are carefully proceedinghither and inspecting the camp. Soon I shall sally out and meet one orother of them, and the end will be arranged for."
"Oh, senor, this incredible good news fills me with joy! At last I amhappy!" she exclaimed, with her eyes full of tears. "Oh, be true to me,man whom I have misjudged, and yet who evinces so much devotion! Betrue to me, for if this, is a cheat, you might as well have driven adagger through my heart!"
"Keep faith in me, senorita. I mean to save you as surely as to punisha great scoundrel! This I have sworn, or the buzzards will have a mealoff my bones."
"I will rely on you, my friend," giving him her hand cordially.
"Besides," said he, "it looks as if my friends were already at work.Three of the band have been cut off already."
"Nay, sir," interrupted a third voice, "you are only half right now.Who the remover of two of them is, I c
an tell you: not a dweller inthese parts, but a young Englishman, who has done so much out ofattachment to--to my father."
It was Miss Maclan. Her sleep had been interrupted at last by thedialogue, and, sitting up, she had listened for a few minutes beforeshe presumed it meet to interpose.
In well-chosen words, she hastened to inform Corkey Joe fully on theattempt at her rescue, and of the abrupt apparition of the Half-breedwho had dragged away Mr. Dearborn.
"Cherokee Bill!" ejaculated the false bandit, in great glee. "What didI tell you, senorita? Why, we are living right among friends!"
He seemed to forget the ladies, who affectionately embraced, as hereflected on the incident no longer a mystery to him.
"Farewell," he said at last, "above all, do not let this joyous hopeof yours be manifested. You must wear a mask, too, whatever singularevents may occur. This Cherokee Bill is an inseparable companion ofthe oldest trapper of the Rocky Mountains, and there is no trick tooartful or impudent that he may not essay. Rest assured the Yager of theYellowstone Valley, as this trapper is called, will give Kidd a teaserbefore long."
He bowed and left the excavation. Soon after he might have been seenperambulating the camp, cold, calm, and wary, directing the nourishingof the fires, and puffing easily at a huge meerschaum pipe with a veryshort stem, secured by a string to his buttonhole against loss. No onesuspected what a chat he had with the beautiful prisoner.