The Pirates of the Prairies Part 13

There was a strange anomaly in this creature, scarce twenty years of age, with delicate features, a tall and lithe form, living among these ruffians whom she ruled over with all the force of a vast mind, indomitable courage, and an iron will. The brigands had a superst.i.tious adoration for her which they could not exactly account for; obeying her slightest caprices without a murmur, and ready to let themselves be killed at the least sign from her rosy fingers.

She was, as it were, their palladium. The girl was perfectly well aware of the uncontrolled power she exercised over her terrible guardians, and abused it constantly, while they never attempted resistance. The Indians themselves, seduced by the grace, vivacity, and sympathetic charms of the young creature, had christened her the White Gazelle; a name harmonising so well with her character, that she was known by no other.

She wore a fanciful costume of extraordinary wildness and eccentricity, which was admirably suited to the gentle, though decided, and slightly dreamy expression of her face. It was composed of loose Turkish trousers, made of Indian cashmere, fastened at the knees with diamond garters; while boots of stamped deer hide protected her leg, and imprisoned her little foot. To her heels were fastened heavy gold Mexican spurs; double-barrelled pistols and a dagger were pa.s.sed through her China c.r.a.pe girdle, which confined her delicate waist. A jacket of violet velvet, b.u.t.toned over the bosom with a profusion of diamonds, displayed her exquisite bust. A brilliant-hued Navajo zarape, fastened at the neck with a clasp of rubies, served as her cloak, and a Panama hat of extreme fineness (_doble paja_), decorated with an eagle plume, covered her head, while allowing tresses of jet black hair to fall in disorder on her neck, and which, had they not been bound by a ribbon, would have trailed on the ground.

This girl was asleep when Red Cedar entered the cavern, and the pirates were accustomed to do nothing without her a.s.sent.

"Red Cedar is a man in whom we can place entire confidence," Pedro Sandoval said, as he summed up the affair, "but we cannot give him answer till we have consulted the _nina_."

"That is true," a second confirmed him--"hence, as any discussion will be useless, I think the best thing we can do, is to follow Red Cedar's example, and go to rest."

"Powerfully reasoned," said one of the bandits, called Orson; a little man with ign.o.ble features, grey eyes, and a mouth extending from ear to ear, while laughing so as to display two rows of white teeth, wide and sharp as those of a wild beast; "so shall I say good night."

The other pirates did the same, and in a few minutes the deepest silence prevailed in the grotto, whose inhabitants, secure in the strength of their position, slept peacefully.

At daybreak Red Cedar opened his eyes, and rose from the hard bed on which he had rested, in order to stretch his limbs, and restore the circulation of the blood.

"Up already!" Sandoval said, as he emerged, cigarette in mouth, from one of the sleeping cells.

"My bed was not so attractive as to keep me longer," Red Cedar answered with a smile.

"Bah!" the other said, "'Tis the fortune of war; therefore I do not complain about it:" the squatter continued, drawing his comrade to the entrance of the grotto. "And now, gossip, answer me, if you please; what do you think of my proposal? You have had time for reflection, I suppose?"

"_Cascaras!_--it did not require much reflection to see that it was a good bargain."

"You accept," Red Cedar said, with a movement of joy.

"If I were to be master, I should not make the slightest difficulty, but--"

"Hang it, there is a but."

"You know very well there always is one."

"That is true; and what is the but?"

"Oh, less than nothing; we must merely submit the question to the Nina."

"That is true: I did not think of that."

"You see now."

"_Cristo!_ She will accept."

"I am certain of it. Still, we must lay it before her."

"Of course. Stay, comrade, I prefer you should undertake it: while you are doing it, I will go and kill some game for breakfast. Does that suit you?"

"Very well."

"Good-bye for the present, then."

Red Cedar threw his rifle over his shoulder and left the grotto, whistling to his dog.

Sandoval, when left alone, prepared to discharge his commission, while saying to himself in an aside--

"That devil of a Red Cedar is always the same, as timid as he used to be: that results from not having been used to the society of ladies.

"Good morning, Sandoval," a gentle and melodious voice breathed in his ear.

And the White Gazelle tapped the shoulder of the old bandit, while smiling kindly on him. The girl was really a ravishing creature. She wore the costume we just now described; but she held in her hand a rifle, damascened with silver. Sandoval gazed on her for a moment with profound admiration, and then answered in a trembling voice--

"Good morning, child; did you have a good night?"

"I could not have had a better; I feel in glorious spirits this morning."

"All the better, dear girl, all the better; for I have to present to you an old comrade, who ardently desires to see you again."

"I know whom you are alluding to, father," the girl replied. "I was not asleep last night when he arrived, and even supposing I had been so the noise you made would have awakened me."

"You heard our conversation, then?"

"From one end to the other."

"And what is your advice?"

"Before answering, tell me who are the people we are to attack."

"Do you not know?"

"No; since I ask you."

"Hang it; they are Americans, I believe."

"But what sort of Americans? Are they Gringos or Gachupinos?"

"I did not inquire into such details; to me all Americans are alike; and provided they are attacked, I ask for nothing more."

"That is possible, old father," the girl answered, with a little pout; "but I make a grand difference between them."

"I do not exactly see the use of it."

"I am free to think as I please, I suppose," she interrupted him, as she stamped her foot impatiently.

"Yes, my child, yes--do not be angry, I entreat you."

"Very good; but pay attention to what I am going to tell you. Red Cedar is a man on whom I do not put the slightest trust. He is ever accustomed to pursue a gloomy object, which escapes his partners; they only serve him as a cat's paw in all his undertakings; and he abandons them unblushingly so soon as they are of no further use to him. The affair Red Cedar proposes to you is magnificent at the first glance; but, on reflecting, far from offering us profits, it may bring a mult.i.tude of annoyances on us, and bring us into a wasp's nest, whence we cannot emerge."

"Then, your opinion is to decline?"