The Scalp Hunters Part 6

"Oui, monsieur; ver like Fontaine-qui-bouille. Oui."

"Drink, man, drink! Don't fear it: it's the pure juice. Smell the flavour; taste the bouquet. What wine the Yankees will one day squeeze out of these New Mexican grapes!"

"Why? Do you think the Yankees have an eye to this quarter?"

"Think! I know it; and why not? What use are these manikins in creation? Only to c.u.mber the earth. Well, mozo, you have brought the coffee?"

"Ya, esta, senor."

"Here! try some of this; it will help to set you on your feet. They can make coffee, and no mistake. It takes a Spaniard to do that."

"What is this fandango G.o.de has been telling me about?"

"Ah! true. We are to have a famous one to-night. You'll go, of course?"

"Out of curiosity."

"Very well, you will have your curiosity gratified. The bl.u.s.tering old grampus of a Governor is to honour the ball with his presence; and it is said, his pretty senora; that I don't believe."

"Why not?"

"He's too much afraid lest one of these wild Americanos might whip her off on the cantle of his saddle. Such things have been done in this very valley. By Saint Mary! she is good-looking," continued Saint Vrain, in a half-soliloquy, "and I knew a man--the cursed old tyrant!

only think of it!"

"Of what?"

"The way he has bled us. Five hundred dollars a waggon, and a hundred of them at that; in all, fifty thousand dollars!"

"But will he pocket all this? Will not the Government--?"

"Government! no, every cent of it. He is the Government here; and, with the help of this instalment, he will rule these miserable wretches with an iron rod."

"And yet they hate him, do they not?"

"Him and his. And they have reason."

"It is strange they do not rebel."

"They have at times; but what can they do? Like all true tyrants, he has divided them, and makes them spend their heart's hatred on one another."

"But he seems not to have a very large army; no bodyguard--"

"Bodyguard!" cried Saint Vrain, interrupting me; "look out! there's his bodyguard!"

"Indios bravos! les Navajoes!" exclaimed G.o.de, at the same instant.

I looked forth into the street. Half a dozen tall savages, wrapped in striped serapes, were pa.s.sing. Their wild, hungry looks, and slow, proud walk at once distinguished them from "Indios manzos," the water-drawing, wood-hewing pueblos.

"Are they Navajoes?" I asked.

"Oui, monsieur, oui!" replied G.o.de, apparently with some excitement.

"Navajoes!"

"There's no mistaking them," added Saint Vrain.

"But the Navajoes are the notorious enemies of the New Mexicans! How come they to be here? Prisoners?"

"Do they look like prisoners?"

They certainly showed no signs of captivity in either look or gesture.

They strode proudly up the street, occasionally glancing at the pa.s.sers with an air of savage and lordly contempt.

"Why, then, are they here? Their country lies far to the west."

"That is one of the secrets of Nuevo Mexico, about which I will enlighten you some other time. They are now protected by a treaty of peace, which is only binding upon them so long as it may suit their convenience to recognise it. At present they are as free here as you or I; indeed, more so, when it comes to that. I wouldn't wonder it we were to meet them at the fandango to-night."

"I have heard that the Navajoes are cannibals."

"It is true. Look at them this minute! See how they gloat upon that chubby little fellow, who seems instinctively to fear them. Lucky for the urchin it's broad daylight, or he might get chucked under one of those striped blankets."

"Are you in earnest, Saint Vrain?"

"By my word, I am not jesting! If I mistake not, G.o.de's experience will confirm what I have said. Eh, voyageur?"

"C'est vrai, monsieur. I vas prisonnier in le nation; not Navagh, but l'Apache--moch de same--pour tree mons. I have les sauvages seen manger--eat--one--deux--tree--tree enfants rotis, like hump rib of de buffles. C'est vrai, messieurs, c'est vrai."

"It is quite true; both Apaches and Navajoes carry off children from the valley, here, in their grand forays; and it is said by those who should know, that most of them are used in that way. Whether as a sacrifice to the fiery G.o.d Quetzalcoatl, or whether from a fondness lor human flesh, no one has yet been able to determine. In fact, with all their propinquity to this place, there is little known about them. Few who have visited their towns have had G.o.de's luck to get away again. No man of these parts ever ventures across the western Sierras."

"And how came you, Monsieur G.o.de, to save your scalp?"

"Pourquoi, monsieur, je n'ai pas. I not haves scalp-lock: vat de trappare Yankee call 'har,' mon scalp-lock is fabrique of von barbier de Saint Louis. Voila monsieur!"

So saying, the Canadian lifted his cap, and along with it what I had, up to this time, looked upon as a beautiful curling head of hair, but which now proved to be only a wig!

"Now, messieurs!" cried he, in good humour, "how les sauvages my scalp take? Indien no have cash hold. Sacr-r-r!"

Saint Vrain and I were unable to restrain our laughter at the altered and comical appearance of the Canadian.

"Come, G.o.de! the least you can do after that is to take a drink. Here, help yourself!"

"Tres-oblige, Monsieur Saint Vrain. Je vous remercie." And the ever-thirsty voyageur quaffed off the nectar of El Paso, like so much fresh milk.

"Come, Haller! we must to the waggons. Business first, then pleasure; such as we may find here among these brick stacks. But we'll have some fun in Chihuahua."

"And you think we shall go there?"

"Certainly. They do not want the fourth part of our stuff here. We must carry it on to the head market. To the camp! Allons!"