The sun is upon the meridian line, and almost in the zenith. The travellers tread upon their own shadows. Enervated by the excessive heat, the white horsemen sit silently in their saddles. Even the dusky pedestrians, less sensible to its influence, have ceased their garrulous gumbo; and, in straggling groups, shamble listlessly along in the rear of the waggons.
The silence solemn as that of a funereal procession is interrupted only at intervals by the pistol-like crack of a whip, or the loud wo-ha, delivered in deep baritone from the thick lips of some sable teamster.
Slowly the train moves on, as if groping its way. There is no regular road. The route is indicated by the wheel-marks of some vehicles that have passed before barely conspicuous, by having crushed the culms of the shot grass.
Notwithstanding the slow progress, the teams are doing their best. The planter believes himself within less than twenty miles of the end of his journey. He hopes to reach it before night: hence the march continued through the mid-day heat.
Unexpectedly the drivers are directed to pull up, by a sign from the overseer; who has been riding a hundred yards in the advance, and who is seen to make a sudden stop as if some obstruction had presented itself.
He comes trotting back towards the train. His gestures tell of something amiss. What is it?
There has been much talk about Indians of a probability of their being encountered in this quarter.
Can it be the red-skinned marauders? Scarcely: the gestures of the overseer do not betray actual alarm.
What is it, Mr Sansom? asked the planter, as the man rode up.
The grass air burnt. The prairys been afire.
Been on fire! Is it on fire now? hurriedly inquired the owner of the waggons, with an apprehensive glance towards the travelling carriage. Where? I see no smoke!
No, sir no, stammered the overseer, becoming conscious that he had caused unnecessary alarm; I didnt say it air afire now: only thet it hez been, an the hul ground air as black as the ten o spades.
Ta tat! what of that? I suppose we can travel over a black prairie, as safely as a green one?
What nonsense of you, Josh Sansom, to raise such a row about nothing frightening people out of their senses! Ho! there, you niggers! Lay the leather to your teams, and let the train proceed. Whip up! whip up!
But, Captain Calhoun, protested the overseer, in response to the gentleman who had reproached him in such chaste terms; how air we to find the way?
Find the way! What are you raving about? We havent lost it have we?
Im afeerd we hev, though. The wheel-tracks aint no longer to be seen. Theyre burnt out, along wi the grass.
What matters that? I reckon we can cross a piece of scorched prairie, without wheel-marks to guide us? Well find them again on the other side.
Ye-es, naïvely responded the overseer, who, although a down-easter, had been far enough west to have learnt something of frontier life; if theer air any other side. I kednt see it out o the seddle neer a sign o it.
Whip up, niggers! whip up! shouted Calhoun, without heeding the remark; and spurring onwards, as a sign that the order was to be obeyed.
The teams are again set in motion; and, after advancing to the edge of the burnt tract, without instructions from any one, are once more brought to a stand.
The white men on horseback draw together for a consultation. There is need: as all are satisfied by a single glance directed to the ground before them.
Far as the eye can reach the country is of one uniform colour black as Erebus[30]. There is nothing green not a blade of grass not a reed nor weed!
The white men on horseback draw together for a consultation. There is need: as all are satisfied by a single glance directed to the ground before them.
Far as the eye can reach the country is of one uniform colour black as Erebus[30]. There is nothing green not a blade of grass not a reed nor weed!
It is after the summer solstice. The ripened culms of the gramineae[31], and the stalks of the prairie flowers, have alike crumbled into dust under the devastating breath of fire.
In front on the right and left to the utmost verge of vision extends the scene of desolation. Over it the cerulean sky is changed to a darker blue; the sun, though clear of clouds, seems to scowl rather than shine as if reciprocating the frown of the earth.
The overseer has made a correct report there is no trail visible. The action of the fire, as it raged among the ripe grass, has eliminated the impression of the wheels hitherto indicating the route. What are we to do?
The planter himself put this inquiry, in a tone that told of a vacillating spirit.
Do, uncle Woodley! What else but keep straight on? The river must be on the other side? If we dont hit the crossing, to a half mile or so, we can go up, or down the bank as the case may require.
But, Cassius: if we should lose our way?
We cant. Theres but a patch of this, I suppose? If we do go a little astray, we must come out somewhere on one side, or the other.
Well, nephew, you know best: I shall be guided by you.
No fear, uncle. Ive made my way out of a worse fix than this. Drive on, niggers! Keep straight after me.
The ex-officer of volunteers, casting a conceited glance towards the travelling carriage through the curtains of which appears a fair face, slightly shadowed with anxiety gives the spur to his horse; and with confident air trots onward.
A chorus of whipcracks is succeeded by the trampling of fourscore mules, mingled with the clanking of wheels against their hubs. The waggon-train is once more in motion.
The mules step out with greater rapidity. The sable surface, strange to their eyes, excites them to brisker action causing them to raise the hoof, as soon as it touches the turf. The younger animals show fear snorting, as they advance.
In time their apprehensions become allayed; and, taking the cue from their older associates, they move on steadily as before.
A mile or more is made, apparently in a direct line from the point of starting. Then there is a halt. The self-appointed guide has ordered it. He has reined up his horse; and is sitting in the saddle with less show of confidence. He appears to be puzzled about the direction.
The landscape if such it may be called has assumed a change; though not for the better. It is still sable as ever, to the verge of the horizon. But the surface is no longer a plain: it rolls. There are ridges gentle undulations with valleys between. They are not entirely treeless though nothing that may be termed a tree is in sight. There have been such, before the fire algarobias[32], mezquites[33], and others of the acacia family standing solitary, or in copses. Their light pinnate foliage has disappeared like flax before the flame. Their existence is only evidenced by charred trunks, and blackened boughs.
Youve lost the way, nephew? said the planter, riding rapidly up.
No uncle not yet. Ive only stopped to have a look. It must lie in this direction down that valley. Let them drive on. Were going all right Ill answer for it.
Once more in motion adown the slope then along the valley then up the acclivity of another ridge and then there is a second stoppage upon its crest.
Youve lost the way, Cash? said the planter, coming up and repeating his former observation.
Damned if I dont believe I have, uncle! responded the nephew, in a tone of not very respectful mistrust. Anyhow; who the devil could find his way out of an ashpit like this? No, no! he continued, reluctant to betray his embarrassment as the carriole came up. I see now. Were all right yet. The river must be in this direction. Come on!
On goes the guide, evidently irresolute. On follow the sable teamsters, who, despite their stolidity, do not fail to note some signs of vacillation. They can tell that they are no longer advancing in a direct line; but circuitously among the copses, and across the glades that stretch between.
All are gratified by a shout from the conductor, announcing recovered confidence. In response there is a universal explosion of whipcord, with joyous exclamations.
Once more they are stretching their teams along a travelled road where a half-score of wheeled vehicles must have passed before them. And not long before: the wheel-tracks are of recent impress the hoof-prints of the animals fresh as if made within the hour. A train of waggons, not unlike their own, must have passed over the burnt prairie!
Like themselves, it could only be going towards the Leona: perhaps some government convoy on its way to Fort Inge[34]? In that case they have only to keep in the same track. The Fort is on the line of their march but a short distance beyond the point where their journey is to terminate.
Nothing could be more opportune. The guide, hitherto perplexed though without acknowledging it is at once relieved of all anxiety; and with a fresh exhibition of conceit, orders the route to be resumed.
For a mile or more the waggon-tracks are followed not in a direct line, but bending about among the skeleton copses. The countenance of Cassius Calhoun, for a while wearing a confident look, gradually becomes clouded. It assumes the profoundest expression of despondency, on discovering that the four-and-forty wheel-tracks he is following, have been made by ten Pittsburgh waggons, and a carriole the same that are now following him, and in whose company he has been travelling all the way from the Gulf of Matagorda!
Chapter 2
The Trail of the Lazo
[35]
Beyond doubt, the waggons of Woodley Poindexter were going over ground already traced by the tiring of their wheels.
Our own tracks! muttered Calhoun on making the discovery, adding a fierce oath as he reined up.
Our own tracks! What mean you, Cassius? You dont say weve been travelling
On our own tracks. I do, uncle; that very thing. We must have made a complete circumbendibus of it. See! heres the hind hoof of my own horse, with half a shoe off; and theres the foot of the niggers. Besides, I can tell the ground. Thats the very hill we went down as we left our last stopping place. Hang the crooked luck! Weve made a couple of miles for nothing.