The Rifle Rangers Part 53

"You will have them at the Eagle's Cave by six in the morning; by six, do you hear?"

"Yes, Captain," again replied the subordinate.

"And if any of them is missing--is missing, do you hear?"

"Yes, Captain."

"You will take his place in the dance--the dance--ha! ha! ha! You understand that, Lopez?"

"Yes, Captain."

"Enough then, good Lopez--handsome Lopez! beautiful Lopez!--enough, and good-night to you!"

So saying, the Jarocho drew his quirt several times across the red cheek of Raoul, and with a curse upon his lips he leaped upon his mustang and galloped off.

Whatever might be the nature of the punishment that awaited us at the Eagle's Cave, it was evident that Lopez had no intention of becoming proxy in it for any of us. This was plain from the manner in which he set about securing us. We were first gagged with bayonet-shanks, and then dragged out into the bushes.

Here we were thrown upon our backs, each of us in the centre of four trees that formed a parallelogram. Our arms and legs were stretched to their full extent, and tied severally to the trees; and thus we lay, spread out like raw hides to dry. Our savage captors drew the cords so taut that our joints cracked under the cruel tension. In this painful position, with a Jarocho standing over each of us, we pa.s.sed the remainder of the night.

Note 1. Griffe, a cross-breed between a negro and a Carib.

Note 2. Manga, a jacket with loose sleeves.

CHAPTER FORTY NINE.

A HANG BY THE HEELS.

It was a long night--the longest I can remember--a night that fully ill.u.s.trated the horror of monotony. I can compare our feelings to those of one under the influence of the nightmare. But, no--worse than that.

Our savage sentries occasionally sat down upon our bodies, and, lighting their cigaritos, chatted gaily while we groaned. We could not protest; we were gagged. But it would have made little difference; they would only have mocked us the more.

We lay glaring upon the moon as she coursed through a cloudy heaven.

The wind whistled through the leaves, and its melancholy moaning sounded like our death-dirge. Several times through the night I heard the howl of the prairie wolf, and I knew it was Lincoln; but the Jarochos had pickets all around, and the hunter dared not approach our position. He could not have helped us.

The morning broke at last; and we were taken up, tied upon the backs of vicious mules, and hurried off through the woods. We travelled for some distance along a ridge, until we had reached its highest point, where the cliff beetled over. Here we were unpacked, and thrown upon the gra.s.s. About thirty of the Jarochos guarded us, and we now saw them under the broad light of day; but they did not look a whit more beautiful than they had appeared under the glare of the blazing rancho on the preceding night.

Lopez was at their head, and never relaxed his vigilance for a moment.

It was plain that he considered the padre a man of his word.

After we had remained about half an hour on the brow of the cliff, an exclamation from one of the men drew our attention; and, looking round, we perceived a band of hors.e.m.e.n straggling up the hill at a slow gallop.

It was Jarauta, with about fifty of his followers. They were soon close up to us.

"_Buenos dias, caballeros_!" (Good day, gentlemen!) cried their leader in a mocking tone, leaping down and approaching us, "I hope you pa.s.sed the night comfortably. Lopez, I am sure, provided you with good beds.

Didn't you, Lopez?"

"Yes, Captain," answered the laconic Lopez.

"The gentlemen rested well; didn't they, Lopez?"

"Yes, Captain."

"No kicking or tumbling about, eh?"

"No, Captain."

"Oh! then they rested well; it's a good thing: they have a long journey before them--haven't they, Lopez?"

"Yes, Captain."

"I hope, gentlemen, you are ready for the road. Do you think you are ready?"

As each of us had the shank of a bayonet between his teeth, besides being tied neck and heels, it is not likely that this interrogatory received a reply; nor did his "reverence" expect any, as he continued putting similar questions in quick succession, appealing occasionally to his lieutenant for an answer. The latter, who was of the taciturn school, contented himself, and his superior too, with a simple "yes" or "no."

Up to this moment we had no knowledge of the fate that awaited us. We knew we had to die--that we knew; but in what way we were still ignorant. I, for one, had made up my mind that the padre intended pitching us over the cliffs.

We were at length enlightened upon this important point. We were not to take that awful leap into eternity which I had been picturing to myself.

A fate more horrible still awaited us. _We were to be hanged over the precipice_!

As if to aid the monster in his inhuman design, several pine-trees grew out horizontally from the edge of the cliff; and over the branches of these the Jarochos commenced reeving their long lazos. Expert in the handling of ropes, as all Mexicans are, they were not long in completing their preparations, and we soon beheld our gallows.

"According to rank, Lopez," cried Jarauta, seeing that all was ready; "the captain first--do you hear?"

"Yes, Captain," answered the imperturbable brigand who superintended the operations.

"I shall keep _you_ to the last, Monsieur," said the priest, addressing Raoul; "you will have the pleasure of bringing up the rear in your pa.s.sage through purgatory. Ha! ha! ha! Won't he, Lopez?"

"Yes, Captain."

"Maybe some of you would like a priest, gentlemen." This Jarauta uttered with an ironical grin that was revolting to behold. "If you would," he continued, "say so. I sometimes officiate in that capacity myself. Don't I, Lopez?"

"Yes, Captain."

A diabolical laugh burst from the Jarochos, who had dismounted, and were standing out upon the cliff, the better to witness the spectacle of our hanging.

"Well, Lopez, does any of them say `yes'?"

"No, Captain."

"Ask the Irishman there; ask him--he ought to be a good Catholic."

The question was put to Chane, in mockery, of course, for it was impossible for him to answer it; and yet he _did_ answer it, for his look spoke a curse as plainly as if it had been uttered through a trumpet. The Jarochos did not heed that, but only laughed the louder.

"Well, Lopez, what says Saint Patrick? `Yes' or `no'?"

"`No', Captain."