The Scalp Hunters Part 51

There were other objects upon which my eye rested with feelings of deeper pain. Stuck behind the belts of many were scalps, fresh and reeking. Their knife-hilts and fingers were red; there was blood upon their hands; there was gloom in their glances.

The picture was appalling; and, adding to its awful impression, black clouds were at the moment rolling over the valley, and swathing the mountains in their opaque ma.s.ses. The lightning jetted from peak to peak, followed by short claps of close and deafening thunder.

"Bring up the atajo!" shouted Seguin, as he descended the ladder with his daughter.

A signal was given; and shortly after the mules, in charge of the arrieros, came stringing across the plain.

"Collect all the dry meat that can be found. Let it be packed as speedily as possible."

In front of most of the houses there were strings of tasajo hanging against the walls. There were also dried fruits and vegetables, chile, roots of the kamas, and skin-bags filled with pinons and choke-berries.

The meat was soon brought together, and several of the men a.s.sisted the arrieros in packing it.

"There will be barely enough," said Seguin. "Here, Rube," continued he, calling to the old trapper; "pick out your prisoners. Twenty will be as many as we can take. You know them: chose those most likely to tempt an exchange."

So saying, the chief turned off towards the atajo, leading his daughter with the intention of mounting her on one of the mules.

Rube proceeded to obey the orders given him. In a short time he had collected a number of unresisting captives, and had put them aside from the rest. They were princ.i.p.ally girls and young lads, whose dress and features bespoke them of the n.o.blesse of the nation, the children of chiefs and warriors.

This movement was not regarded in silence. The men had drawn together, and commenced talking in loud and mutinous language.

"Wagh!" exclaimed Kirker, a fellow of brutal aspect; "thar are wives apiece, boys: why not every man help himself? Why not?"

"Kirker's right," Rejoined another; "and I've made up my mind to have one, or bust."

"But how are ye goin' to feed 'em on the road? We ha'n't meat if we take one apiece."

"Meat be hanged!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the second speaker; "we kin reach the Del Norte in four days or less. What do we want with so much meat?"

"There's meat a-plenty," rejoined Kirker. "That's all the captain's palaver. If it runs out we kin drop the weemen, and take what o' them's handiest to carry."

This was said with a significant gesture, and a ferocity of expression revolting to behold.

"Now, boys! what say ye?"

"I freeze to Kirker."

"And I."

"And I."

"I'm not goin' to advise anybody," added the brute. "Ye may all do as ye please about it; but this niggur's not a-goin' to starve in the midst o' plenty."

"Right, comrade! right, I say."

"Wal. First spoke first pick, I reckin. That's mountain law; so, old gal, I cottons to you. Come along, will yer?"

Saying this, he seized one of the Indians, a large, fine-looking woman, roughly by the wrist, and commenced dragging her towards the atajo.

The woman screamed and resisted, frightened, not at what had been said, for she did not understand it, but terrified by the ruffian expression that was plainly legible in the countenance of the man.

"Shut up yer meat-trap, will ye?" cried he, still pulling her towards the mules; "I'm not goin' to eat ye. Wagh! Don't be so skeert. Come!

mount hyar. Gee yup!"

And with this exclamation he lifted the woman upon one of the mules.

"If ye don't sit still, I'll tie ye; mind that!" and he held up the la.s.so, making signs of his determination.

A horrid scene now ensued.

A number of the scalp-hunters followed the example of their ruffian comrade. Each one chose the girl or woman he had fancied, and commenced hurrying her off to the atajo. The women shrieked. The men shouted and swore. Several scrambled for the same prize--a girl more beautiful than her companions. A quarrel was the consequence. Oaths and e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns rang out; knives were drawn and pistols c.o.c.ked.

"Toss up for her!" cried one.

"Ay, that's fair; toss up! toss up!" shouted several.

The hint was adopted; the lots were cast; and the savage belle became the property of the winner.

In the s.p.a.ce of a few minutes nearly every mule in the atajo carried an Indian damsel.

Some of the hunters had taken no part in this Sabine proceeding. Some disapproved of it (for all were not bad) from motives of humanity.

Others did not care for being "hampered with a squaw," but stood apart, savagely laughing at the scene.

During all this time Seguin was on the other side of the building with his daughter. He had mounted her upon one of the mules, and covered her shoulders with his serape. He was making such preparations for her journey as the tender solicitudes of the father suggested.

The noise at length attracted him; and, leaving her in charge of his servants, he hurried round to the front.

"Comrades!" cried he, glancing at the mounted captives, and comprehending all that had occurred, "there are too many here. Are these whom you have chosen?" This question was directed to the trapper Rube.

"No," replied the latter, "them's 'em," and he pointed to the party he had picked out.

"Dismount these, then, and place those you have selected upon the mules.

We have a desert to cross, and it will be as much as we can do to pa.s.s it with that number."

And without appearing to notice the scowling looks of his followers, he proceeded, in company with Rube and several others, to execute the command he had given.

The indignation of the hunters now showed itself in open mutiny. Fierce looks were exchanged, and threats uttered aloud.

"By Heaven!" cried one, "I'll have my gal along, or her scalp."

"Vaya!" exclaimed another, in Spanish; "why take any of them? They're not worth the trouble, after all. There's not one of them worth the price of her own hair."

"Take the har then, and leave the niggurs!" suggested a third.

"I say so too."

"And I."