Long before daylight on the morning succeeding the narration of Correliana Adinope, the busy sound of preparation was heard on board of the Tortuga, and on shore. Food and clothes for raiment were bestowed in hampers and bales, by the Kyronese, in quantity sufficient for the easy carriage of the mules; while Captain Dow and his subalterns, Jack and Bill, marshaled the Kyronese guard in preparation for rifle, pistol, and howitzer, defensive and offensive practice. At sunrise, when nearly ready for the start, Correliana clapped her hands with a joyful exclamation, and, in a moment after a messenger falcon stooped in perch upon her wrist. This was of the species Falco peregrinus of the pampas, but much improved in size and plumage from culture. Its greeting, as with the first, was replete with pleasurable animation, extending its wings in impulsive sway to the voluntary and involuntary action of its talons, peculiar to birds and beasts of prey, when subject to intensified sensual gratification. As with the cat kind, who make their “friendly” satisfaction manifest by extending and contracting the sheath muscles of the claws, the falcon unconsciously closed its talons upon the wrist of its mistress, causing her to utter, with the painful punctures, “Soh, soh, Merlin, mon brachiale!” Captain Greenwood, observing the flow of blood from her wrist, quickly supplied her with a pair of gauntlets. Merlin, when again restored to her wrist, seemed to understand the intention 84of the buckskin proviso, for he used his talons in the expressive ruffling and extending of his wings; succeeding with his coquetry in attracting her attention from the train of meditation in which she appeared to be engaged, he raised his wings upright, exposing beneath parchment scripts; these removed he leisurely commenced a survey of his surroundings. After their perusal she wrote a few words in reply upon some French tissue paper furnished by M. Hollydorf; this secured in Merlin’s sacks, he desired Captain Dow to take note of the bird’s course, before it rose to its poise, as it would guide him to the opening of the pass in the foot-hills. After the bird in floating flight had reached the point of designation, it soared to its poise and in descent quickly disappeared from view.
When the train was fully in motion, Correliana beckoned Captain Greenwood apart, and then to his surprise addressed him in English, with slow, measured enunciation the involumed supplication “Will-you-come-to-us-if-we-are-successful? We-are-happy-among-ourselves,-and-if-you-love-happiness-as-we-enjoy-it-in-our-simplicity,-and-your-educated-habits-will-permit-you-to-love-me,-without-regret-from-other-cause-than-my-own-demerits,-there-will-be-great-joy-in-store-for-us.”
The captain’s faculties, notwithstanding his bewildered amazement caused by her sudden acquisition of power to express her thoughts in English, and with such clearness his most coveted desire, in terms so agreeable to his perception of her worth, answered with prompt energy, in quick imitation of her method, “If-my-life-is-spared-I-will-visit-you-soon!”
After a moment’s hesitation, as if to realize the full comprehension of his reply, she, with a sudden flush of joyful animation, exclaimed, “I-am-certain-you-feel-that-my-happiness-depends-upon-the-consummation-of-our-love-in-Heraclea!” Then with the proffer 85of salutation, she answered to the hastening call of Captain Dow.
This parting scene between Captain Greenwood and Correliana caused M. Hollydorf’s countenance to become overcast with a rueful shadow of dismay. At nine o’clock the train reached the foot-hills where they exchanged their last farewell signals with those left under Tortugan protection. On the fifth day after their departure from the anchorage of the Tortuga, the train had gained the eastern slope of the highest mountain pass that opened to their view the Betongo valleys, with but one interruption to their progress from Indian opposition, which was quickly turned aside.
On the first of July, while in midway descent to the valley, the falcons returned after a short flight over a wooded district to the left of their course, which was interpreted by Correliana as an indication of danger from an approaching party of Indians. This startling news caused the greatest activity. While Captain Dow reconnoitred with his glass the descent for a point of advantage for their reception, his two cannoniers prepared the howitzer charges for immediate action. Fortunately they were able to reach a comparatively level plat that offered for their train’s protection the vantage of a natural rampart, which was improved for the reception of the gun with a wall of stones serving as a mask. When the defensive preparations were completed, the pack train, under its guard of women, was sheltered behind it as far in the rear as possible.
While yet engaged in strengthening our position for their reception, a large body of Indians on horseback debouched from a wooden pass upon the plateau below. It was evident from their movements, when collected for consultation, that they were aware of our near approach, and when discovered would be set upon immediately. That the crisis might be hastened, 86and the obstruction to our progress removed as speedily as possible, the weakness of our party in numbers was exposed outside of the temporary walls of the fortification as a temptation for speedy onset. Their eyes were soon directed toward us, at first with silent curiosity, then after a short consultation they sprang upright upon the croups of their horses, and commenced brandishing their spears and clubs, with the evident intention of intimidation. Accessions to their number were constantly appearing from different quarters showing that our progress had been watched. Nearly an hour elapsed before a forward movement was attempted. Their waiting delay enabled us to strengthen our position. They commenced their approach with feats of equitation that would have delighted a circus audience, seemingly determined to entertain us to the death. Indeed, their evolutions, which were timed to a war song and dance with a display of acrobatic agility as they advanced at a gallop, attracted our admiration. When within six or seven hundred yards they came to a sudden halt, then after a short “palaver” they reformed in sections, which commenced an involved circle dance, the horses performing their parts without prompting from bridle or lash. The object of the entertainment was soon apparent in the narrowing space between the outer circle and our rubble stone wall. Jack, although amused with the nearing foes’ tactics, nursed the fuse fire of his linstock with watchful care, Bill keeping the howitzer in range with their rising advance to the point intended for the discharge of their spears. While yet without the bounds of their spears’ range, quick as thought the whole band were in full career toward our cover, the foremost launching their spears at everything human exposed. The ducking and dodging on our side was naturally and skillfully executed, but not in every instance gracefully. Jack reached the ground in the style of turtles sunning 87themselves on a water log, when surprised by urchins with a flight of stones, but in his descent did not lose his presence of mind, for the report of the howitzer was simultaneous with the report of the rifles. The massing of the horses in the onset caused a fearful havoc. The effect produced upon the survivors, from the turmoil of bewilderment, subjected them to a second and third discharge of the cannon and rifles; then in view of the slaughter the mayorong’s pity was excited, and with imploring signs he petitioned Captain Dow to withhold the fire of his men. The cessation allowed the Indians to recover from their daze, but panic succeeding, they dispersed wildly in flight, giving expression to the tumultuous effect of fear in attitudinal variations, which, in equestrian display, exceeded in diversity those improvised as a prelude to the battle.
When the last of the fugitives had disappeared, it was discovered that Correliana had sustained the only injury inflicted from the cast of spears. Fearing that her protectors, in amused scorn for the unwarlike antics of the foe, would allow them to attain their intention of securing, with the impetus of onset, an effective range for their weapons, she had risen to caution Captain Dow, when in the act a spear grazed her shoulder inflicting a flesh wound. This had been immediately cared for by the Kyronese women, and her anxiety and pain were so slight that she rallied the two sailors, who were sincerely affected with sympathy for her safety, on the speedy methods they adopted in avoidance of the spears.
Jack with a humorous smile, rendered comical by the perceptible movement of his tongue, as if in the act of revolving a quid from side to side of his mouth, replied: “To be sure it was sum’ut lubberish to your ledyship’s eyes, but it’s a way we learned at sea to draw the enemy’s fire.”
The effect of our arms had been terrible, the dead 88and wounded Indians greatly outnumbering the shots fired; the predominance of the latter bespoke in plain terms either the unpracticed skill of the Kyronese in the use of firearms, or their more probable instinctive humanity. Captain Dow, anxious to retrieve lost time, had the wounded and dead bodies of the Indians removed for the passage of the train. The mayorong caused the former to be tenderly carried into the inclosure, and when the train had passed beyond the human obstructions, he requested permission to remain with the elder matrons that they might bestow some relief upon the suffering until their companions recovered from their panic, promising to overtake them before they encamped for the night. Although the objects of his delay received but little sympathy from the members of the corps, and its male adjuncts, they could not refuse the request, but insisted that he should retain a sufficient number of his men as a guard for their safety. When the moon rose we had gained the valley of the Betongo, and the rare beauty of the scenery, under its resplendent light, invited us onward; but the mayorong’s party had not overtaken us, which caused some anxiety, but this was soon dissipated by their appearance. Urged on by the delightful prospect, heralding the speedy attainment of our journey’s object, we were enabled to encamp in a shaded nook upon the banks of the Betongo river. Notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, the Kyronese added game and fresh fish to our delayed repast.
With the morning’s dawn we moved onward over a paved causeway, with its massive stones still intact after untold centuries of wear from Time’s detrite usage. Inland from this shaded causeway, we passed Indian villages at intervals of a few miles, pleasantly located upon knolls surrounded with banana, corn, and vegetable plantations. One of the largest we entered, but found it deserted; there were, however, abundant evidences of its recent occupation. Finding 89an abundant supply of roasted corn, dried fish, and other edibles, an equal quantity was taken from each house, the hampers of the mules furnishing cloths in exchange. The site of each village was connected by a branch causeway with that of the river’s bank, confirming the relation of Correliana.
To kill, rout, and destroy, is the orthodox inculcation of civilized progression; so in view of relieving the inhabitants of the besieged city from the besiegers’ stores of provision, we resolved to visit all the villages in our route, and mulct from their abundance as much food as we could transport with our limited means of carriage, leaving with each an equivalent. Dr. Baāhar advocated the total destruction not only of the provision left, but of the plantations and villages, in opposition to the mayorong’s pleading expostulations for their preservation. But the doctor urged the curative plan of extirpation of the sources of vitality, as the only authorized means sustained by classical experience for rendering the enemy’s efforts nugatory. “For,” said he, “it will be neither consistent or prudent to leave your enemies the means of prosecuting their unrelenting siege of Heraclea.” The mayorong, with sad deprecation, pleaded that acts of revengeful destruction would only enrage, and in naught avail the beleaguered; as they would increase the inveteracy of hatred, with justice, against the white race, that so not only the lives and peaceful happiness of the Heracleans would be sacrificed, but others with like kindly intentions. For in making others suffer needlessly, we cannot hope through futile intimidation to be spared ourselves, if an opportunity for revengeful reprisal should occur? This half soliloquized questioning appeal of the mayorong, seemed to be addressed to all, and from the impression conveyed by his intonations in speaking, its truthfulness, when interpreted, was sanctioned with general approval. Still, although manifestly grateful for the 90appreciation of the majority, his countenance lacked the fullness of satisfaction that the hearty concurrence of Dr. Baāhar would have afforded. But the doctor, with the proverbial fatuity of the precedentalist, substituted for the required solace the revised saw, “they thought themselves wiser in their generation than their forefathers,” evidently with the intention of reproving his associates for their defection from the transmitted creed of warful usage. That there might be no lack in the practical support of the mayorong’s behest, Correliana left as equivalents, in exchange for food, a large proportion of the cherished gifts bestowed by Captain Greenwood.
Determined to reach the besieged city before midday on the morrow, we did not halt until the dividing range of hills, that separated the upper and lower valleys of old Heraclea, had been surmounted. Upon the shaded summit overlooking the vegas we encamped for the night. The cool refreshing breeze that swept over the hill, and an abundant supply of sweet grass for recruiting the strength of the horses and mules, lured us to delay our start on the following morning, until the sun had dispersed the mists from the valleys. When the fleecy veil was at length dissipated, an enchanting view was presented upon either hand extending as far as the eye could reach. Paved roads or causeways followed the windings of the river and canals through all the alluvial districts. These were of easy detection from the checkered overgrowth of brambled weeds, which ever delight to erect their prickly domes and spires above the ruins of palaces, churches, monumental tombs, and the most splendid mechanical achievements of man, as if in derision of his instinctive claims to immortality, after a life spent in arrogant oppressions, and thorny assumptions, opposed to the kindred sympathy of reciprocal goodness. While the Kyronese were bestowing their kindly attention upon the animals, 91M. Hollydorf, with barometrical aid, calculated the altitude of the valley above the plain of the Tortuga, and found that its elevation exceeded four thousand and nine hundred feet. But with heat lessened by only a few degrees from the tropical zenith, the valley, from its still continued facilities for irrigation, appeared to be the scene of perpetual verdure. Its altitude gave a climate, from mountain inclosure, especially adapted for the cultivation of exotic fruits and cereals, of which, in wild growth, there were abundant specimens.
While Correliana was in thoughtful meditation, overlooking the beautiful scene, her attention was attracted to the labors of Mr. Welson, who was engaged in writing out his diuretic observations upon the developed phases of instinct. With Dr. Baāhar’s aid, he............