Keeping himself and horse under cover of the cedars, after instructing his comrade to do the same, he reconnoitres the bottom-land, before attempting to descend to it.
As expected, he sees the Indians making for the ford. At the point between the San Saba, and either of its bluffs is a breadth of some four miles, part open meadow land, the other part, contiguous to the river overgrown with heavy timber. Into this the red hors.e.m.e.n are riding, as the two hunters reach the summit of the pa.s.s, the latter arriving just in time to see their last files disappear among the trees. It is their cue to descend also, which they do, without further delay.
Hastening down the ravine and on to the river ford, they discover that the Indians have crossed it. The tracks of their horses are on both banks. Beyond, the hunters cannot tell which way they have taken. For though still only twilight it is dark as night under the thick standing trees; and he keenest eye could not discover a trail.
Thus thrown off, they have no choice but continue on to the settlement.
Beaching this at a rather late hour, they do not enter the mission-building nor yet any of the huts of the _rancheria_. Their own residence is a tent, standing in the grove between; and to it they betake themselves. Once under canva.s.s their first thought is supper, and they set about cooking it. Though they have brought back no buffalo meat a twenty pound turkey "gobbler" has been all day dangling at the horn of Hawkins" saddle--enough for a plentiful repast.
Oris, who acts as cook, sets to plucking the bird, while Hawkins commences kindling a fire outside the tent. But before the f.a.gots are ablaze, the old hunter, all along abstracted, becomes fidgetty, as if troubled with the reflection of having neglected some duty he ought to have done.
Abruptly breaking off, and pitching aside the sticks, he says:--"This wont do, Cris, nohow. I"ve got a notion in my head there"s something not right about them Indyens. I must up to the house an" tell the Colonel. You go on, and get the gobbler roasted. I"ll be back by the time its ready."
"All right," rejoins Tucker, continuing to make the feathers fly.
"Don"t stay if you expect any share of this bird. I"m hungry enough to eat the whole of it myself."
"You needn"t fear for my stayin". I"m just as sharp set as yourself."
So saying, Hawkins strides out of the tent, leaving his comrade to continue the preparations for their repast.
From the hunter"s tent, the house is approached by a narrow path, nearly all the way running through timber. While gliding silently along it, Hawkins comes suddenly to a stop.
"Seems to me I heard a cry," he mutters to himself; "seems, too, as "twar a woman"s voice."
After listening awhile, without hearing it repeated, he adds:
"I reckon, "twar only the skirl o" them tree-crickets. The warm night makes "em chirp their loudest."
Listening a little longer, he becomes convinced it was but the crickets he heard, and keeps on to the house.
CHAPTER FORTY NINE.
WAITING THE WORD.
To all appearance Fernand"s fireworks are about to bear fruit, this likely to be bitter. As the sky, darker after the lightning"s flash, a cloud is collecting over the new settlement, which threatens to sweep down upon it in a rain storm of ruin. What but they could have caused this cloud; or, at all events, given a cue for the time of its bursting.
It appears in the shape of a cohort of dusky hors.e.m.e.n, painted and plumed. No need to say, they are the same that were seen by Hawkins and Tucker.
Having crossed the river at its lower ford, where so far the hunters saw their tracks, there losing them, the savages continued on. Not by the main road leading to the mission, but along a path which deflects from it soon after leaving the river"s bank. A narrower trace, indeed the continuation of that they had been following all along--the transverse route across the bottom-land from bluff to bluff, on both sides ascending to the steppe.
But though they came down on one side, they went not up on the other.
Instead, having reached the nether bluff, they turned sharp along its base, by another and still narrower trace, which they knew would take them up to the mission-building. A route tortuous, the path beset with many obstacles; hence their having spent several hours in pa.s.sing from the ford to the mission-house, though the distance between is barely ten miles.
No doubt they have good reason for submitting to the irksome delay caused by the difficult track, as also for the cautious manner in which they have been coming along it. Otherwise, they would certainly have chosen the direct road running nearer the river"s bank.
While Colonel Armstrong, and his friends, are enjoying themselves in the refectory of the ancient mission-house, in the midst of their laughing hilarity, the painted cavaliers have been making approach, and are now halted, within less than half-a-mile from its walls. In such fashion as shows, they do not intend a long stay in their stopping place. Not a saddle is removed, or girth untightened; while the bridles, remaining on their horses" heads, are but used as halters to attach them to the trees.
The men have dismounted, but not to form camp, or make bivouac. They kindle no fires, nor seem caring to cook, or eat. They drink, however; several of them taking flasks from their saddle pouches, and holding them to their heads bottom upward. Nothing strange in this. The Texan Indian, whether Comanche, Kiowa, or Lipan, likes his fire-water as much as a white man, and as constantly carries it along with him. The only peculiarity about these is that, while quaffing, they do not talk in the Indian tongue, but English of the Texan idiom, with all its wild swearing!
The place where they have halted is a bit of glade-ground, nearly circular in shape, only half-encompa.s.sed by timber, the other half being an embayment of the bluffs, twin to those on the opposite side of the river bottom. It is shaded three-quarters across by the cliff, the moon being behind this. The other quarter, on the side of the trees, is brilliantly lit up by her beams, showing the timber thick and close along its edge, to all appearance impa.s.sable as the _facade_ of rugged rock frowning from the opposite concave of the enclosed circle.
Communicating with this are but two paths possible for man or horse, and for either only in single file. One enters the glade coming up the river bottom along the base of the bluff; the other debouches at the opposite end, still following the cliff"s foot. By the former the Indians have entered; but by the latter it is evident they intend going out, as their eyes are from time to time turned towards it, and their gestures directed that way. Still they make no movement for resuming their march, but stand in gathered groups, one central and larger than the rest. In its midst is a man by nearly the head taller than those around him: their chief to a certainty. His authority seems acknowledged by all who address him, if not with deference, in tone and speech telling they but wait for his commands, and are willing to obey them. He, himself, appears waiting for something, or somebody else, before he can issue them, his glance continually turning towards the point where the path leads out upwards.
Impatiently, too, as ever and anon he pulls out a watch and consults it as, to the time. Odd to see a savage so engaged; above all possessed of a repeater! Still the Indians of to-day are different from those of days past, and have learnt many of the white man"s ways--even to wearing watches. The man in question seems to know all about it; and has his reasons for being particular as to the hour. He is evidently acting upon a preconcerted plan, with the time fixed and fore-arranged. And evident also that ten is the hour awaited; for, while in the act of examining his dial, the old mission clock, restored to striking, tolls just so many times; and, before the boom of its cracked bell has ceased rolling in broken reverberation through the trees, he thrusts the watch hurriedly into his fob. Then stands in expectant att.i.tude, with eyes upon the embouchure of the upper path, scanning it more eagerly than ever. There is a strange coincidence between the strokes of the clock and the flashes of Fernanda powder--both numbering the same. Though not strange to the leader of the savage troop. He knows what it is-- comprehends the significance of the signal--for signal it has been. A dread one, too, foreboding danger to innocent people. One who could behold this savage band, scrutinise the faces of those composing it, witness the fierce wicked flashes from their eyes, just as the clock is striking, would send up a prayer for the safety of Colonel Armstrong and his colonists.
If further informed as to who the savages are, the prayer would sure be succeeded by the reflection--"Heaven help his daughters! If G.o.d guard not, a fearful fate will be theirs--a destiny worse than death!"
CHAPTER FIFTY.
AN UNCANNY SKULKER.
Still within the garden are the young girls--still standing under the shadow of the two trees that furnished the contrasting symbols,-- unconscious of danger near. Helen"s speech, suggesting such painful sequence, has touched her sister to the quick, soon as spoken, afflicting also herself; and for a time they remain with entwined arms and cheeks touching--their tears flowing together. But Jessie"s sobs are the louder, her grief greater than that she has been endeavouring to a.s.suage.
Helen perceiving it, rises to the occasion; and, as oft before, in turn becomes the comforter; their happiness and misery like scales vibrating on the beam.
"Don"t cry so, Jess. Be a good girl, now. You"re a little simpleton, and I a big one. "Twas very wrong of me to say what I did. Be it forgotten, and let"s hope we may yet both be happy."
"Oh, if I could but think that!"
"Think it, then. You _are_ happy, and I--shall try to be. Who knows what time may do--that and Texas? Now, my little Niobe, dry up your tears. Mine are all gone, and I feel in first rate spirits. I do indeed."
She is not sincere in what she says, and but counterfeits cheerfulness to restore that of her sister.
She has well-nigh succeeded, when a third personage appears upon the scene, causing a sudden change in their thoughts, turning these into a new and very different channel.
He whose appearance produces such effect--for it is a man--seems wholly unconscious of the influence he has exerted; indeed, is so.
When first observed, he is coming down the central walk; which, though wide, is partially shadowed by trees. And in their shadow he keeps, clinging to it, as if desirous to shun observation. His step declares it; not bold this, nor regardless, but skulking, with tread catlike; while every now and then he casts a backward glance, as if in fear of some one being behind. Just that which hinders him from seeing those who are in front.
The girls are still standing together, with hands joined--luckily on one of the side-walks, and like himself in shadow--though very near to having separated, and one, at least, rushing out into the light at first sound of his footstep. For to Jessie it gave joy, supposing it that of her Luis. Naturally expecting him to join her, she was almost sure of its being he.
Only for an instant. The tread was too light for a man marching with honest intent, and the step too shuffling to be that of the young planter. So whispered Helen.
Soon they see it is not he, but his major-domo.
Both are annoyed, some little irritated, at being thus intruded upon.
At such a time, in the midst of sacred emotions, all the more by a man they both instinctively dislike. For Fernand is not a favourite with either.
Then the idea occurs, he may be coming to seek them, sent with some message from the house, and if so, they can excuse him. Concluding his errand to be this, they await it, in silence.
They are quite mistaken, and soon perceive it. An honest messenger would not be moving as he. While pa.s.sing the open ground by the ruined waterworks, the moon falls full upon his face, which wears an expression anything but innocent, as they can both see. Besides, his gestures also betray guilt; for he is skulking, and casting glances back.
"What can it mean?" whispers Jessie into Helen"s ear; who replies by placing a finger on her lips, and drawing her sister into deeper shadow.
Silent both stand, not stirring, scarce breathing. One seeing, might easily mistake them for statues--a Juno and a Venus. Fortunately Fernand does not see, else he might scrutinise them more closely. He is too much absorbed about his own affair, whatever it be, to think of any one loitering there at that time of the night.