CHAPTER XXII.
THE LATE VISITOR TO THE LADIES.
While Lieutenant Joe was so boldly spying upon his superior andmanaging to get a look at him, notwithstanding his precautions topreserve his incognito, there were other important events happening inand about Dona Rosario's tent full worthy of record.
After Captain Kidd left them the prisoner had held a long conversationwith her fellow captive Ulla. They arranged that the latter should notfor once go and be confined for the night with the late prizes of theHalf-breeds, but keep with the Southerner, whether the captain approvedor not.
Rosario was a great deal more agitated than the Scotch girl, though itwas a question of receiving a call from Ranald Dearborn.
They were both ignorant at what hour he would come, and whether hecould get back into the encampment secretly. But as it was a promise,Ulla assured her friend that he would not be easily impeded.
With the help of Leon, the girls lined the tent with rugs, furs, andmats, so that the doubly thickening the wall not only increased thewarmth, which was no inconvenience, but prevented the least ray oflight filtering. This would have betrayed that Rosario was awake, andnot asleep, for the camp curfew was set at ten o'clock at the farthest.That was one of the points Kidd made when he went round before going tosleep himself.
The silver hanging lamp was muffled in gauze round its reflecting shadeso as to diminish the gleam, the while it added a mysterious green tintto the soft twilight. Very little more than a pleasant glow arose fromthe brazier, which burnt pine knots, diffusing an agreeable odour.
At length Drudge was sent away. The two girls sat on cushions, like thebeauties of the harem, too anxious to chat to pass the time away, andglancing ever and anon at a French clock on a stand.
On this evening, as we know, Captain Kidd received the sentries andferreted about, but he came across none breaking his orders. DonaRosario's habitation, along with the rest, appeared to be plunged inutter darkness.
As no doubt his captive reposed, the leader rubbed his hands gladly,and went to shut himself in his tent, so that Old Nick could not get athim, as the men playfully said.
We know by the foregoing chapter how the Carcajieu had made a mock ofhis contrivances.
After quitting the lieutenant, Drudge, with the passive obedience heshowed, and the cunning he well concealed under seeming stupidity,began carrying out the order received.
It was then about half after ten.
It was a black night, the fine rain never ceased to fall, and, whiskedunder the natural vault by a rising wind, appeared to come from allquarters at once. There was no evading it; but Leon seemed quiteheedless, though it must have pierced his insufficient garments. Hestole away like an eel along the rocky edge, crossing the whole camplongwise till he attained the spot where the platform ended, and thecliff formed an unfathomable gulf where darkness deepened. He stoppedshort, and looked well about him to make sure he was alone.
Whether alone or not, neither he nor another could see any objectthough at touching distance. Reasoning that any watcher would,therefore, be perplexed to perceive him, the youth swiftly unwound aleather rope from about his middle. A giant pine leaned out from theprecipice. To this he fastened one end of the lasso; coiling the slackup clear for running out in one hand, he attached the loop around agood-sized stone muffled with grass, which even frost had not killed,in a cranny.
He leaned over the gulf, and imitated with rare perfection theinquiring and rather mockingly intoned hiss of the whip snake callingfor a mate. Any listener would have imagined that the reptile Don Juan,drowned out of his hole by the icy rain, was seeking with equal relishto taunt a rival or a ladylove to leave its burrow and respond to hischallenge or advances. After having repeated this call several times,but without impatience, a similar answer came from below--short, sharp,shrill, angry, as if the rival snake was aroused and climbed up for afight.
Most of the sentries were asleep, we know; and the others, whetherexperienced woodmen or not, would pay no attention to what seemed anordinary incident of the night.
On receiving his reply, though, the youth flung the stone and coils outfrom him. Softened by the grassy matting, the stone could not be heardto land; but the snake hissed afresh, and the lariat was drawn taut.
The Drudge exhaled a long breath, as one delivered from mortal anguish.
In fact, it had not been an easy task in the perfect gloom, and guidedby sound alone in a damp atmosphere, to swing a weighted cord to thevery hand of a man expecting it. If, instead of his catching it, it hadstruck him in the face, he must have been full of fortitude not to havecried out. But chance had favoured the plotters.
Very soon, indeed, a figure loomed up, pulling the cord as well asclambering daringly up the cliff face, and with joyfulness leaped overthe edge on solid ground.
"Thanks, my boy!" he muttered.
"Thank our Father above, Mr. Dearborn--it is He who did it all!"responded the youth.
"I beg your pardon, you have said the proper thing. It makes a fellowreligiously inclined to be in such straits and miraculously pulledthrough them. Lead on, Leon, it is late--but first, let us undo thelasso, and efface the marks of my coming up and over."
"Are you not going back this way?"
"Dear, no; much obliged. In that little climb I nearly broke my necka hundred times, short measure! Besides, it is not the getting out ofthe camp that will worry me. Make haste--the young ladies must be justdying from uneasiness."
Drudge unloosed the lasso and coiled it round him in a few minutes.
"Ready, sir?" he said.
"Show me the way. I am not able to get about--I cannot see at all."
"You need not fear, I know the road very well by this time."
"Where is Joe?"
"Don't know--want to see him?"
"Well, I should like to speak with him."
"_?Quien sabe?_--who knows but we may run up against him?"
"Rather against him than a stranger. I feel like a housebreakersomehow; I suppose it is the night time, for our motive is good--evenholy!"
"Come along. Take the bend of the lasso, and not a sound!"
"I am as mute as a statue."
Leon led the Englishman by the loop in the same direction he had takento come. Dearborn stared and listened, but seemed to be the blind manin the game for all he perceived. On the other hand, the Drudge knewhis path instinctively. In daylight he could hardly have gone morestraight. After the still blundering march had continued some tenminutes, the leader halted.
"Here we are!" he whispered.
"Near the ladies' tent?" inquired the other.
"Within a step or two of Dona Rosario's tent; yes. Now, the rest isyour affair."
"I suppose it is. But what can I do? I have never been further in thanthe dining room, so to flatter it. If I stumble over anything and makea noise, there will be an alarm, and all will be spoilt."
"That's true. I am sorry not to have thought of your having other eyesthan mine. Follow me still, therefore."
"Good again. But, half a minute, my boy--where am I to find you in caseI should require you?"
"Right here, sir, where we are standing. Must I not keep a lookout foryour retreat?"
"So you must. You are right every time. I hardly know what I am aboutin saying or doing. The mere thought of speaking with the young ladyfreely unhinges me so that I--I fluctuate like a door in the wind."
"Be a man, sir; remember that on what you arrange in this interview isrisked, not only your life, of which I do not know the value, but thoseof the two young ladies, one of which is as precious to me, sir, as theother, I daresay, to you."
"You touch my very heart, boy!--The idea terrifies me! But still itgives me the pluck which was oozing out at my fingers' ends. I feel upto the mark again. Come what may, I shall behave like a man, I believe.On again."
"Come on, but, more than before, silently! Hush, hush!"
They penetrated the marquee, the thick curtain, made heavier by therain,
falling behind them with a dull sound so sinister as to make themshudder. So does a pall flap on the bier in a sepulchral vault.
For over half an hour the two girls had not exchanged a syllable. Thewhizz and strokes of the timepiece bestirred them at last.
"Eleven," muttered Dona Rosario, impatiently and mournfully. "Oh, yourfriend will never come."
"Stop, stop; he is here!" ejaculated Ulla, rising, and restraining herdeep joy from loud expression.
The pretended guide stood in the doorway, holding up the screen, andcontemplating the two lovely creatures, whose fate might be determinedby his mission, with as much love for one as pity for the other. Afterhis great excitement and the strain on his nerves, he was pale. Hisright hand came round upon his heart to compress its throbbings; buthis eyes flashed brightly with bravery, and his manly face was coveredwith gladness. His gaze centred on Miss Maclan, and approaching thecushion which she quitted, he seemed about to fall on his knees,thankful that they were met again. Rosario drew herself away into thecorner, smiling and thoughtful at this knightly reverence.
"I am afraid this captivity is chafing upon you," he said,clear-sighted as a lover is to the least trace of sorrow on belovedfeatures.
"It is true," she answered softly, "but my misfortunes have but begun.Think rather of what this poor young lady must have endured for a year,all alone in misery with not one to share her burden; friendless, in astrange, desolate region, far from all that makes living sweet. Shehas to believe that she is absolutely ignored."
"No more than you has she been forgotten," returned Dearborn, thoughwithout looking away from the person he addressed.
"Alas, sir, this being true," observed the Spanish girl gently, "atleast, grant that it is so much misfortune that makes me unjust. Itmakes anyone hard, though with the best of tempers. I daresay I amwilful, petulant. Oh, I am! And all that--but look at my having to keepup the struggle all the time with misfortune. And I am only a girltoo--a child, they say in the North, whose early years were passed injoyous, happy peace, surrounded by dear schoolmates, very kind to me.When the storm unexpectedly burst upon me, I felt as if I should neveroutlive it."
"Don't talk so, dear," cried Miss Maclan, with that proneness ofdistressed females to forget the tangible danger in order to condoleover a sentimental grievance, which, in this case, simply maddened themale bystander. "Your sorrows are well nigh at an end, I feel assured.You are going to save her, are you not, Mr. Dearborn; and I love you,Rosie, I love you very much."
"I am easier," said the Mexican girl, "ever since this gentleman cameinto the camp; but still, you must not be too confident! The men youare matched with are very wicked ones, and there are ever so many ofthem too."
"Well, my friends count up to a good number. I have not started on thiserrand without knowing what may be my support. Our friends are braveand strong, and having their promise to help, I could be confident. Tosay nothing of the remains of your father's company, Miss Maclan, thereis one man, the leader of the trappers--"
"You mean Mr. Ridge," exclaimed Rosario, sharply.
"Yes; they call him the Yager of the Yellowstone. He's an American--"
"That's the one! If he is on your side, you need not much fear."
"So you know him?"
"So does Ulla there, from my talking to her about him as a devotedfriend of my family. With that man on the lookout to save me, togetherwith his companion, the Cherokee, Mr. Williams, I do look up again withthe hope that I shall be rescued from this wretch, the Captain."
"Well, things stand thus. Before morning I expect to see Ridge, and toconcert with him on hurrying on the time for the removal of all youladies from this camp."
"Heaven hears you! I pray it will help you."
"It is possible we may find assistance among Kidd's men too."
"Have a care, sir! All I have seen are very hangdog fellows," and Ullashuddered.
"I know that. Be sure that I shall make no friends without the greatestprudence. I only trust, too, so far the Captain's right-hand man."
"Oh, you mean Joe?" broke in Rosario, joyfully.
"He worked this round so that we are in communion. He suggested myseeing you too. I do not know how he managed it, but he has levelledoff obstacles. Besides, he brought me into relations with a youngfellow, almost a boy, who has been most useful to me, I assure you.Without his helping hand, I could not have gained this place."
"Ah! You allude to poor Drudge now," said the two girls, with the sameaffectionate pity.
"That's the boy. But allow me to ask you, Dona, if you have had a longknowledge of them?"
"Ever since I quitted the borders in charge of these ruffians."
"Well, what is your opinion of them; your cold drawn opinion of them,as they say? You will readily understand that I am too much of astranger to this part of the world, and such queer uncommon persons asI meet, to judge quickly."
"They bewilder me too," added Miss Maclan.
"They both have done me great services. They say they are devoted toyou, Dona Rosario, but as nothing proves to me yet that this devotionis not assumed, I fear to be cheated, and even that I am cheated intrusting them so far. Nothing more closely resembles a good servantthan a hypocritical one, and between ourselves, I must own that CorkyJoe has no winning countenance, better ones have hung a man."
The girls laughed, Rosario the heartier.
"Poor Joe!" she exclaimed, "His face is not a good passport, but he isnot to blame for that."
"I do not blame him for that, certainly," returned the Englishman, "andI do not say that is sufficient grounds for mistrusting him."
"You would make a mistake in that case, Senor Dearborn," said theMexican, becoming serious. "He's a fine fellow, and I place myconfidence in him."
"What do you think, Miss Maclan?"
"I agree with my friend; she has the proof in her hands that theCarcajieu stays near her to help her in case of dire need."
"Yes, but how and why? Do you mean to say he is placed near you bysomeone?"
"By that Mr. Ridge, perhaps?" suggested Miss Maclan.
"That may be," answered Rosario, contemplatively.
"Ridge is an extraordinary man," said Ranald, thoughtful himself. "Hehas a wonderful influence over the white trappers and hunters, wildIndians, and these Red River Half-breeds, who hate the Canadians andAmericans alike, and yet respect him. They tell me that importantquarrels have been decided by his plain word, and never any murmuringfrom the party who lost."
"But to return to the lieutenant," said Ulla.
"Yes," took up her friend, "of his true faithfulness I have ampleevidence. It is a secret which I have promised to keep. Please do notdoubt him any more."
"Here's another mystery! They talk of the plain, straight men of thewild frontier life, and, on the contrary, every other man seems tobe a hero of romance or of the Newgate Calendar. This Joe makes meuneasy, like the gentleman, spruce, trim, quiet, with a sharp eye, whomone sees as a boy about one's father's house, and whom one imaginesfearfully to be a detective to arrest the butler for stealing spoons;or a sheriff's officer to arrest papa, and who turns out to be apicture dealer come to see if the smoky old picture, so long our targetfor puffballs, in the library is a genuine Snyders or not. It is clearfor me that your lieutenant wears a mask, and no pretty one either!"
"Perhaps the better to suit the faces around us, sir," replied Ulla,forcing a laugh. "These are white men's, but, really, the red Indian's,painted for war, is not more intolerable!"
"_iDios mio!_" interjected Rosario, "What's the odds! Are we not allother than what we seem here? Is not every one of us wearing a maskfrom Captain Kidd down?"
"In his case, it has slipped aside a minute," broke in a deep voice.
The girls started back in alarm.
"Who's that?" cried Ranald, turning round, and putting his hand to hisbelt, none too swiftly if there had been danger.
It was the subject of their former conversation, the Carcajieu.
"I mean to sa
y," continued he, in a cold, stern voice, moreauthoritative than they had ever heard before, "that though yourdisguise and my own still preserve our identity, it is no longer sowith our good Captain Kidd. I have succeeded in having an unimpededlook at his phiz."
"Can it be true?" ejaculated Rosario, clasping her hands.
"You have succeeded?" repeated Ranald.
"Yes; thanks to the clue you placed for me. Thank you very much."
"So you have fairly viewed him?"
"Yes; face to face--free from paint and feather--for upwards of half anhour, without his having the faintest warrant for imagining that I hadhim under the lens."
"Ah! That's why you announced yourself in that rather theatrical manneryou use out here?"
"Theatrical, eh? Well, if you mean tragic, you are right, sir. By theway you were worried about who placed me on guard over this younglady? I heard that too. Nothing to apologise for. Well; it is not overthe young lady that I am placed, and it is not Jim Ridge that ordersme here and there. I am _attached_ to Captain Kidd, ladies, and Mr.Guide," said Joe, with an ominous smile, "and it is Uncle Sam that setme on him. That is all I can say. As for listening to your talk, I didit because of a powerful interest. It is only then I do play the spy, Ihope."
"It does not matter a bit, sir!" cried Rosario, in her impulsive way."This time, as a listener, you have heard good of yourself--but I shallnever have done praising you; but go on and tell us about that dreadfulman!"
"I came for that, and I waste no time, for it is valuable. To bebrief--the commander of these scoundrels, calling himself Kidd, is notKidd at all, but a younger man--looking thirty, but may be more. He'sdark enough to be taken for an Indian or Mexican. He's a handsome manfor those that like the King of the Gambler's type. I know that underthe name of 'Hank,' which is Harry, Brown, rather notorious down South,he has been outlawed by the Government. Folks laugh at the DistrictCourts, but as their warrant commands the military to lend hand for anarrest, I guess Mr. Brown thought it judicious to leave civilization.But even that name may not be his original one, or really his. It mayconceal something blacker in the past. For one, may not Hank Brown beCorvino, or Cornelio Bustamente, whose portrait you traced, senorita?"
"As you spoke the same idea struck me, I do not know why. The more Ithink it over, the more solid the impression becomes. Besides, thisCornelio Bustamente was the bounden friend of Don Miguel Tadeo deCastel Leon."
"His agent in the shameful scheme to which you fell a victim," addedthe lieutenant quickly; "but where is Don Miguel, then, the infernalfiend who wrought out the plot? How is it he has contrived to get awaywithout leaving any traces? It is important to learn that. Well, well,this is not interesting to you," he continued, looking over to Ullaand Ranald, who were not engrossed in this turn of the conversation."We shall discover him, too, Heaven helping us! I have a clue thatsatisfies me, and sooner or later the whole skein must be in my grip.Ladies, have faith in me and in Jim Ridge; both, on our sides, aregoing to see this game out, or our bones shall whiten the mountains."
"Mr. Joe, I have entire faith in you."
"And I!"
"I, too!"
In his hands the lieutenant pressed the three held out to him with thesame sincerity, Rosario's warmest with gratitude.
"Thank you all. But time is up! Say good bye, Mr. Dearborn, and followme close."
"Aren't we to know any more?"
"Nothing to tell," returned Joe, bluntly. "Mr. Dearborn, five minutesto take your leave of the ladies. In your place, I should want ten!" headded, gallantly.
Luckily, Ulla was not a weakling, and into whatever danger her friendwas about to plunge, she would not indulge in any demonstration ofemotion before the Mexican. After her kind, the Scotch girl was as calmas an Indian. But the young man had been brought up in similar society,and comprehended what was under the ice. He felt her hand quiver inhis, and noticed a faintly jealous glance when, in what he thoughtobligatory courtesy in the Spanish mode, he kissed Rosario's littlehand.
"Six minutes!" said Joe at the door flap, in a railing tone.
Guided with brotherly care through the camp, Dearborn was taken to anoutlet where he went away unnoticed. Joe watched his figure melt intothe darkness, and muttered:
"That young man is awfully in love with the Scotch girl. They make agood pair. We must save them as well as this fiery spark of a Mexican.She's more my style. This would be no kind of a world if such as theywere tormented, and a vile creature like Brown had a good time of it inthe big cities."
Getting back to Rosario's tent, he relieved the Drudge for the lasttime, and, throwing himself down in the damp, slept or pondered, whichnone could say, till the peep of day.