CHAPTER ELEVEN.
A LUDICROUS SPECTACLE.
Amid the vapoury mist that soared above the foaming torrent, the tops ofthe two _ahuehuetes_ could be seen only indistinctly, but the trunks andlower limbs were more palpably visible. On one of these, that projectedobliquely over the water, the dragoon fancied he could perceive thefigure of a man. On closer scrutiny he became certain it was the figureof a man, and the bronze-coloured skin told him the man was an Indian.
Looking further, he observed another apparition equally singular.Through the fork of the second _ahuehuete_, appeared a face with acomplexion black as ebony. It could be no other than the face of anegro.
Here, then, were three distinct types of the human race met in this wildspot. Why he was himself there, Don Rafael knew well enough; but whathad brought the Indian and negro into such a place, and at such an hour,was what was now puzzling him.
Without saying a word, he stood watching the movements of the two men,in hopes that the event would furnish him with an explanation. Soon theentire bodies of both negro and Indian appeared in sight, as the two mencrawled outward on the overleaning limbs of the trees; but still moreplainly, as, hanging by the branches, they let themselves down tilltheir feet dipped in the foam; and swinging there, appeared to gothrough a series of the most grotesque contortions! The sight made thehead of the officer to swim, as if suddenly struck with vertigo.
Thus engaged, neither of the two perceived Don Rafael, though he wasstanding upon a spot of open ground immediately below them.
For his life, the officer could not guess the nature of these singularproceedings. He concluded that some object--unseen to him--was engagingtheir attention; and he could not help fancying that it was some nymphof the waters, whom the negro appeared to be wooing, to judge by hisimpassioned gestures and animated physiognomy.
The large mouth of the darkey was open from ear to ear, displaying hisdouble row of white teeth set in the most winning smile; while ever andanon he stretched his neck out over the water, as if the object of hisregards was hid under the shining sheet of foam!
The Indian was acting in a similar fashion, but with a more seriousexpression of countenance, and greater dignity of manner.
The officer carefully scrutinised the whole surface of the cascade; buthe could see nothing but the glistening sheen of the water, and the massof white foam where it broke over the rock.
At that moment the Indian made a sign to the black to cease from hisgrimaces; and, letting go his hold with one hand, he swung his bodywholly upon the other over the fearful abyss.
The recklessness of the action caused a renewed surprise to thespectator standing below, amounting almost to a feeling of awe. Beforehe had time to reflect upon it, a human voice reached his ears, risinghigh above the roaring of the torrent. It was the voice of the Indian,who, with outstretched arm, was chaunting a solemn invocation to thespirit of the waters. The words could not be distinguished, but DonRafael saw, by the muscular play of the man's lips, that he was singingwith all the strength of his lungs.
Curiosity might have prompted the dragoon captain to watch these strangeproceedings to the end, but the desire of learning something about hisroute influenced him to act otherwise. He fancied that by waitinglonger the opportunity might be lost. The two persons might disappearin a manner as mysterious as was their behaviour.
To attract their attention, therefore, he shouted, and at the top of hisvoice; but to no purpose. The deafening roar of the cataract hinderedhim from being heard; and partly, perhaps, the engrossing occupation inwhich the two men were engaged.
Failing to attract their notice, he resolved upon ascending the side ofthe ravine, and going round to the place where they were. For thatpurpose he retraced his steps through the thicket; and after a difficultclimb he reached the top of the cliff, at the point where the_ahuehuetes_ formed the arcade over the water. The two personages haddisappeared!
Curious as to the object of their ludicrous proceedings, the dragoonclimbed up one of the trees, and from a commanding point carefullyscrutinised the water underneath. He there perceived nothing more thanhe had seen already--nothing to justify the strange conduct he hadwitnessed.
While in the tree, he looked down into the ravine below; first upon thefrothing river, and then over the tops of the bushes that grew upon itsbank. In an instant he perceived that some of these were in motion, asif some one was making way through the thicket which he had himselftraversed.
Presently two men emerged from the cover, and stepped out upon the openbank, at the spot where but the moment before Don Rafael had stood. Aglance satisfied him that they were the same he had seen upon the_ahuehuetes_--the negro and Indian.
The sun had already set, but there was still light enough, even in thebottom of the ravine, for Don Rafael to distinguish, not only themovements of the men, but the expression upon their features. Both worea solemn cast, but those of the negro exhibited evidence of his beinginfluenced by a secret fear.
Near the bank, and where the stream was shallow, a large round boulderof rock stood up out of the water. Towards this the two were directingtheir steps.
At a signal from the Indian, the negro collected a number of dry sticks;and having piled them upon the flat top of the rock, set them on fire.
In a short time the blaze shot up, and cast its red glare over thestream, tinging with purple flakes the foam of the cataract.
The negro, after kindling the fire, seated himself on the bank, andappeared to contemplate the blaze and its reflections with a feeling ofawe. The Indian, on the other hand, threw off his hat, and untwined theplaits of his hair--black as the wing of the raven--whose age heexpected to attain. Leaving the long tresses to fall wildly over hisshoulders, he walked out into the water, and halted by the side of therock. The dragoon now saw for the first time a huge sea-shell--aconch--in the hands of the Indian, which had hitherto hung by his sidesuspended in a string. Placing the conch to his month, he blew severalloud, prolonged notes upon it, as if with the intention of arousing thespirit of the waters. Then suffering the shell to fall back upon itsstring, he commenced leaping around the rock in a sort of grotesquedance, splashing and plunging through the water until the spray rose upand wetted him over the crown of the head.
The whole spectacle was at once ludicrous and imposing. The stoicalcomposure of the negro, who sat perfectly silent upon the bank watchingwith a solemn air the grotesque capers of his companion--the red lightreflected upon the savage figures of the two men--reflected also uponthe foaming cataract, which appeared to roll over the cliff like anavalanche of fire--all combined to form a scene in which the ludicrousand the sublime were singularly commingled.
Don Rafael might have desired to witness the _finale_; but time waspressing, and he had a strong motive urging him to proceed upon hisjourney.
"_Santos Dios_!" cried he, in an impatient tone, "I should like verywell to wait and see what pagan divinity these droll savages areinvoking; but it will not do to tarry longer here. I must onwards; andto find my way it will be necessary to interrupt their proceedings."
Saying this, the officer raised his voice and shouted "Hola!" with allthe strength of his lungs.
The hail was not heeded: it was not heard.
"_Maldito_!" exclaimed he, "I must try some other means of drawing theirattention."
A method at once suggested itself; and stooping, the officer took up ahandful of small pebbles, and launched them down upon the two adorers ofthe demon.
So far as drawing their attention went, the means proved efficacious;for the instant that the pebbles fell upon the water, the Indian, with astroke of his hand, swept the fire from the rock, and the ravine becameinstantaneously as dark as Erebus. The forms of the twowater-worshippers disappeared in the gloom; and Don Rafael found himselfalone in the presence of the foaming cataract.