"The sand whirls down there, but it is only the wind that is stirring it. They are alone, and now they stop and look about them."
So saying, Bois-Rose rose slowly, like the eagle who agitates before completely unfolding his wings--those powerful wings the rapid flight of which will soon bring him down to the plain.
"Senor Don Estevan," said Pedro Diaz, "I think we should return to the camp."
Don Antonio hesitated a moment. The counsel was good, but it was too late to follow it.
From the top of the rock the three hunters watched their every movement.
"It is time," said Bois-Rose.
"I must take Don Antonio alive," said Fabian. "Arrange that, and I care for nothing else."
Bois-Rose now rose to his fall height, and uttered a cry which struck on the ears of the new-comers. They uttered an exclamation of surprise, which surprise was still further increased at sight of the gigantic Canadian upon the rock.
"Who are you, and what do you want?" cried a voice, which Fabian recognised as that of Don Antonio.
"I shall tell you," replied the hunter; "it will recall to you a truth-- never contested either in my country or in the desert--that the ground belongs to the first occupants; we were here before you, and are the sole masters of this place. We therefore wish one of you to retire with a good grace, and the other to surrender himself, that we may teach him a second law of the desert, "blood for blood.""
"It is some anchorite whose brain is turned by solitude," said Pedro Diaz; "I shall terminate the conference with a bullet from my rifle."
"No!" cried Don Estevan, stopping him, "let us see first how far this folly will go. And which of us is it, friend," continued he, with an ironical air, "to whom you wish to teach this law?"
"To you," cried Fabian, rising.
"What! you here!" cried Don Estevan with mingled rage and surprise.
Fabian bowed.
"And here am I, who have been following you for the last fortnight,"
said Pepe, "and who thanks G.o.d for the opportunity of paying off a debt of twenty years" standing."
"Who are you?" asked Don Estevan, trying to remember who it was, for years and difference of costume had altered the aspect of the old coast-guardsman.
"Pepe the Sleeper, who has not forgotten his residence at Ceuta."
At this name, which explained Fabian"s words at the bridge of Salto de Agua, Don Estevan lost his air of contempt. A sudden presentiment seemed to warn him that his fortunes were waning, and he cast around him an anxious glance. The high rocks, which on one side shut in the valley, might protect him from the fire of his enemies; a short s.p.a.ce only separated him from their foot, and prudence counselled him to fly there, but his pride forbade him.
"Well then!" cried he proudly after a pause, "revenge yourself on an enemy who disdains to fly."
"Have we not said that we wish to take you alive?" replied Pepe, coldly.
CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT.
THE KING-MAKER A CAPTIVE.
In the whole course of his adventurous life, Don Estevan had never been in such danger. The plain offered him no protection against the rifles of his enemies--two at least of whom had an infallible eye and steady aim--and who had also the advantage of an impregnable position, and turrets of rock behind which to intrench themselves. Don Estevan did not conceal from himself the extent of his danger; but neither did his courage give way.
"Let us have done with this trifling," cried the sonorous voice of Bois-Rose, whose generosity made him averse to profit by his advantages, and who scrupled always to shed blood if he could avoid it. "You have heard that we wish no harm to any but your chief, and you must make up your mind to let us take him. Retire then willingly, if you do not wish us to treat you as we intend to treat him."
"Never!" cried Diaz, "shall I commit such a cowardice? You are the first comers; so be it; we will yield the ground to you, but Don Estevan must be allowed to go with me."
"_We_ refuse," cried Pepe; "we particularly want the man you call Don Estevan."
"Do not oppose the justice of G.o.d," added Fabian; "your cause is only that of man. We give you five minutes to reflect, after which our rifles and our good cause shall decide between us."
"You have but two minutes to decide," said Bois-Rose; "listen to me and avoid needless bloodshed."
Mediana kept silence and preserved his haughty air. Unshakable in his notions of chivalric honour, Pedro Diaz resolved to die with the chief, whose life he believed to be so precious to his country. He consulted Don Estevan by a look.
"Return to the camp," said the latter; "abandon to his fate a man henceforth useless to your cause, and come back to avenge my death."
Diaz was not to be moved, but gradually drew his horse close to Don Estevan, and when their knees touched, with his face still turned toward his enemies, he murmured, with scarcely a movement of his lips:
"Keep steady in your stirrups, have your horse ready, and let me act."
Don Estevan made signs with his hand as though to demand a truce; but he had taken a desperate determination.
"Bend down, Fabian; he is going to fire," cried Bois-Rose.
"Before my mother"s murderer? Never!" cried Fabian. Quick as thought, the hand of the Canadian giant on his shoulder, forced him down. Don Estevan vainly sought for an aim for his double-barrelled piece. He could see nothing but the formidable rifle of Bois-Rose directed towards him, although in obedience to Fabian"s wishes, Bois-Rose would not finish the combat by striking his foe to the ground.
With as much courage as agility, Diaz now jumped up behind Don Estevan on his horse, and throwing his arms around him to steady him after the shock, seized the bridle, turned the animal round, and galloped off, covering with his body, as with a buckler, the chief whose life he was willing to save at the expense of his own. While Fabian and Pepe rushed down the rock, at the risk of breaking their necks, Bois-Rose followed the movements of the horse glancing along the barrel of his rifle.
The two men appeared to make but one body: the back of the horse and the shoulders of Diaz were the only objects at which Bois-Rose could aim; only now and then the head of the animal was visible. To sacrifice Diaz would be a useless murder; and Don Estevan would still escape. A moment more and the fugitives would be out of range; but the Canadian was of that cla.s.s of marksmen who lodge a ball in the eye of a beaver, that he may not injure its skin; and it was the horse he wished to aim at. For a single moment the head of the n.o.ble animal showed itself entirely--but that moment was sufficient; a shot was heard, and the two men and the death-stricken horse rolled over together on the ground.
Bruised by the violence of their fall, both men rose with difficulty; while, their poignards in their teeth, and their rifles in their hands, Fabian and Pepe advanced upon them. Bois-Rose followed with great gigantic strides, loading his rifle as he went. When he had finished, he again stopped.
Pedro Diaz, devoted to the last, rushed towards the gun which had fallen from Don Estevan"s hands, picked it up, and returned it to him.
"Let us defend ourselves to the last!" cried he, drawing his long knife.
Don Estevan steadied himself and raised his piece, undecided for a moment whether to aim at Fabian or at Pepe; but Bois-Rose was watching, and a bullet from his rifle broke the weapon of the chief in his hands, just where the barrel joins the stock, and Don Estevan himself, losing his balance, fell forward on the sand.
"At last, after twenty years!" cried Pepe, rushing towards him, and placing his knee upon his breast.
Don Estevan vainly tried to resist; his arm, benumbed by the violence of the blow which had broken his gun, refused its service. In an instant Pepe had untied the woollen scarf which was wound several times round his body, and bound with it the limbs of his enemy. Diaz could offer no a.s.sistance, for he had himself to defend against the attacks of Fabian.
Fabian scarcely knew the Indian fighter; he had seen him only for a few hours at the Hacienda del Venado; but the generosity of his conduct had awakened in the heart of the young man a warm sympathy, and he wished to spare his life.
"Surrender, Diaz!" cried he, parrying a dagger blow slimed at him; but Diaz resolved not to yield, and for the few minutes during which Pepe was engaged in binding Don Estevan, there was a contest of skill and ability between him and Fabian. Too generous to use his rifle against a man who had but a dagger to defend himself with, Fabian tried only to disarm his adversary; but Diaz, blinded by rage, did not perceive the generous efforts of the young man, who, holding his rifle by the barrel, and using it as a club, tried to strike the arm which menaced him. But Fabian had to deal with an antagonist not less active and vigorous than himself. Bounding from right to left, Diaz avoided his blows, and just as Fabian believed he was about to succeed, he found himself striking in the air, and the knife menacing him afresh. Bois-Rose without waiting to reload, ran up to put an end to the struggle--in which Fabian"s generosity placed him at a disadvantage--and Pepe, having fast bound his enemy, advanced also.
Thus menaced by three men, Diaz determined not to die without vengeance.
He drew his arm back, and made a rapid thrust at Fabian; but the latter had been carefully watching the movement, and his rifle met the murdering weapon on its way. The dagger fell to the ground; and Pepe, seizing Diaz round the body just as Fabian struck him, cried, "Fool!
must we kill you, then? If not, what shall we do with you?"
"What you have done to that n.o.ble gentleman," replied Diaz, pointing to Don Estevan.