Beck Center English Dept. University Libraries Emory University
Emory Women Writers Resource Project Collections:
Women's Genre Fiction Project

Adventures of the Merton Family, an electronic edition

by Anne Bowman [Bowman, Anne]

date: 1868
source publisher: Quaker City Publishing House.
collection: Genre Fiction

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CHAPTER XXV.
The Arrival of the rest of the Fugitives. Account of the Assault. Paul carried off. The Flight. The Toldes removed. Expedition to the Ruins of Esperanza. The Ascent of the Cattle to the Vale of Refuge. Visit of Paul. His Story.

AFTER their devotions, they rose up, somewhat calmed. "Let us now make a fire," said Matilda, "which we may do in perfect safety, for it is absolutely impossible for the Indians in the valley below to perceive it; especially as we are inclosed in the solid rock."

The fuel provided by Jack and Charles was at hand, and a fire was soon made, which, in the wide and lofty cavern, | | 295 greatly added to the comfort of the pensive inhabitants. They collected round it; and Mary and Maria going to feed the horses, found the saddles, which had been taken off and placed near. They brought them into the large cave to serve for seats; and having now a light, Mr. Merton read to them some select passages of holy writ; which engaged their attention in some measure, and enabled them to endure the torturing anxiety of their situation.

Mary looked at her watch; it was two hours past midnight. How much must have occurred since the Indians left the encampment; and how anxiously they longed to know the details. They felt no inclination for sleep; their nerves were too much excited by the frightful uncertainty; and it was in vain to listen, for no sound beyond the rock could reach them in their retreat. Another half hour of misery passed; then the voice of dear Jack was heard through the opening,--" All safe! All here! mamma!"

Mrs. Merton turned pale, and was almost fainting; but the sight of the party emerging, one after another, from the narrow entrance, revived her. They were all safe, and heavily laden with guns, blankets, baskets, and bags; but they looked pale and haggard, and after the first greetings, were silent for some time.

"Tell us the worst, my children; now that I see you all around me, I can bear it. Is it, that we have no longer a home?" said Mr. Merton.

"None but this, at present, certainly," replied Lewis; "and praised be God's name, who provided such a refuge for us, or what would have become of you, my beloved friends? But come, boys, we must not despair, put down your loads, and then Nanny will give us some supper, and we will relate our sad tale."

Jack went out to the stream for a pitcher of fresh water, and the pie was no longer rejected. They all took the refreshment they so much needed, and then Dr. Lewis said,--

"Notwithstanding the strong and sincere assurances Paul gave us of his influence over his people, I had doubts, and told him of them. I gave him the best advice I could for his conduct when we should be separated; I besought him, above | | 296 all things, to remember the Christian precepts he had heard and to hold fast the faith he had professed. He promised earnestly that he would never forget his friends or his God; and that if he was not permitted to remain with us, he would certainly return to us.

"That the Indians might be misled as to the mode of escape, should escape be necessary, we made a breach in the eastern part of the fence, near the corral, and turned loose through it, the two best cows and Almagro's mule, which I felt certain would voluntarily revisit their old home; and if we should venture to return, we might recover them. The poultry we dismissed to the woods. We then strewed branches lightly over the breach we had made, and finished by making up the bundles you see, which we placed in the cave. We had provided for the last emergency; but we determined to make the best defence we could. Almagro mounted the observatory with water ready in case of a conflagration and we remained with our rifles ready at that weak point of the fence, of which the Indians were well aware.

"At midnight the distant torches and shrill cries, announced the approach of the enemy. The river is unfortunately so low, that, as I expected, it did not form an obstacle to them; but we had our last hope, and this was the moment to test it. Paul mounted on his own horse, after taking a mournful farewell of us, and was let out through the portal.

"'If I find my people will no longer hear me,' said he, much agitated; 'if I find they will raise their hands against my brothers, I will speak in the words of the language which my fair sisters taught me, and proclaim my disgrace and despair.'

"We saw him join the rushing crowd. There was a short pause, succeeded by loud and angry disputation. We hoped and feared; but a few minutes settled all our doubts, for the Indians rode furiously forward. Some attempted to force the door others threw torches in all directions on the fence which blazed in twenty places. But in the midst of the confusion the clear voice of Paul reached our ears, crying out, 'Fly, my friends! all is lost! I cannot save you.'

"We tore away the loose branches from the breach we had made, which they had not yet reached, so that they | | 297 might fancy we had fled in that direction; then firing a volley, to lead them to suppose we intended to defend the fort, and not to escape; we retreated to the dilapidated hut, raised the rock which covered the secret outlet, and stole out into the wood, first replacing the stone; and we were soon in the old cave. For a moment we contemplated remaining there; but knowing how anxious you all would be, and trusting that in the delight of destruction and plunder, the Indians would not care to pursue us, we determined to come to you.

"We crossed the river unperceived, and fled along the valley till the lights at the encampment warned us to take to the fatiguing wood. God be thanked we have reached you, unseen and unhurt; and even Jack the valiant allows that opposed by such numbers, it was not cowardly to heat a retreat."

"No, really, I think it was all fair," said Jack; "for I had a peep at the villains from the observatory, and I shall never forget the sight. A great part of them were entirely naked, and looked as wild and furious as demons, and these would be, I suppose, Paul's friendly tribe. His own people had some scanty covering, and were led by the woman of the scarlet poncho, who was certainly Paul's mother; rather unlike our mother, I should say, Mary. Poor, dear Paul he was surrounded by a hand of armed men, who did not join in the attack, but were doubtless placed to guard him. He looked very sorrowful, and I am quite sure, if they do not assassinate him, he will come back to see us."

"Then I hope he will not visit us in princely state," said Matilda. "I have no desire to see his court round him. But I have many things to ask. First: where is Wallace? Why have you not brought him with you?"

"I wished it very much," said Lewis; "but sagacious as Wallace is, I fear we could not have made him understand the necessity of silence and caution; for you know that when he is let loose to walk with us, he barks incessantly, and this would most certainly have ruined its. I considered all this before Paul left us; and as the dog knew him, I engaged him to promise to be his protector; and I have no doubt he will be able to do for Wallace what he could not do for us."

"I am very weary," yawned Tom; "had we not better go to bed?"

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Tom's drowsy exclamation, and his quiet proposal to go to bed, as if he was in a commodious mansion, created a little diversion; and Jack begged to conduct him to his bed-chamber.

But Nanny had lighted fires in two of the inner caves; and there, on such blankets, cloaks, and cushions as they had been able to bring away, the family retired to rest, too thankful to have a secure sleeping-place to lament the want of mattresses.

It was late before the young people woke from their heavy slumber; and they found Almagro had already been reconnoitring from the summit of the hill. He was of opinion, from the quiet state of the encampment, that the warriors had not yet returned to it, and were probably ranging the country in search of their lost victims. This was by no means a pleasant reflection; and the family determined to remain strictly secluded so long as the toldos appeared in the valley; they therefore breakfasted, fed the two horses, and then began to set their house in order.

The cave which they named the kitchen looked certainly most like an inhabited place, for, besides Matilda's forethought, the prudent Nanny had brought more pans and kitchen utensils. In the panniers first sent were the table requisites. Some smooth fragments of rock were selected and brought into the hall, as they named the large cave, for seats, a larger piece formed a table, and an emptied pannier became baby's sleeping-cot.

Their provision consisted of a bag of maize flour, some charqui, and the biscuit, tea, and sugar first sent. They had also some candles, which, with the cloaks, blankets, rifles, and heavy bags of ammunition, had sufficiently loaded the young men.

"Here are the two lances we left the other day," said Charles; "so, with our knives and rifles, we have a tolerable armory, which I trust we may not need here; and we have two horses also, a most fortunate circumstance."

"I longed to have released my poor Pamparo," said Lewis; "but I feared, if the savages found the corral emptied it would incense them more against us."

"And my pretty Dewdrop's life is saved by leaving her here," said Jack; "for the wretches would inevitably have | | 299 devoured her, as they do all the mares. Paul seemed astonished to see me condescend to ride Dewdrop."

The day after passed away very tediously, all being deprived of their usual employment, and unable to leave their retreat; and they were relieved when the darkness permitted them to venture from the care, and to climb the hill to observe what was going on in the toldos.

They saw that all was in great confusion, many lights were visible, and the horsemen were coming in one after another; but the distance and the darkness prevented them from distinguishing their proceedings. But the refreshment of the cool evening air cheered the prisoners; and they looked round on the little quiet dell, so strikingly contrasted with the turbulent scene in the valley below, with pleasure and gratitude, and retired to the cave to thank God for their tranquillity, and to rest without fear.

The second morning's observation discovered to the anxious party the gratifying spectacle of the removal of their unpleasant neighbors. The women had already taken down the slight framework of the huts, and were rolling up the hide covers and placing them on the horses, many of which stood laden with the plunder of Esperanza. The men were mounted, their horses being decorated with the curtains and carpets woven by the sisters for their dear home. The warriors were waving their long spears in triumph, and one was ringing a bell, which the Mertons recognized, with vexation, as the bell of their chapel.

Finally the procession moved off, headed by Paul and his mother. Lewis observed through his glass that Paul was leading a large dog, which he concluded was Wallace, in a long lasso. They applauded this act of prudence; for if the dog had been at liberty, he would certainly have tracked his old masters, and betrayed their retreat. All the Indians they now saw were clothed; and from the diminution of numbers, they concluded that the tribes had separated, to go to their respective hunting-grounds.

It was with infinite satisfaction that the party on the hill saw their enemies gradually disappear behind the distant hills; and before the day was over, Lewis and Almagro ventured to descend through the woods to examine the site of the tolderia. Nothing remained to mark the spot where it | | 300 had been, but the trodden and cropped grass, the blackened traces of the fires, and the blood and entrails of the slaughtered animals on which the Indians had feasted the night before, and on the remains of which were now perched some hideous condors, gorged with eating.

The friends then returned to cheer the impatient prisoners with the assurance that the search was abandoned, and their retreat secure. The rest of the morning was passed in walking round the verdant little basin, which seemed so wonderfully discovered for their refuge. In length it extended about a quarter of a mile; but the breadth was not more than a hundred yards, between the cave and the foot of the opposite hill. On the north, south, and west, this vale was guarded by inaccessible rocks, and could only be approached from the east.

"What a site this would be for a settlement," said Tom. "how much more secure than Esperanza! We have only to raise a high brick wall along the ridge of the hill, and defy the lances and the torches of the Indians. We have water and wood, and a fine situation for gardens and pastures."

"All this sounds very well, Tom," said Lewis, "but I am by no means sure that our good parents would like it so well as the spot that first gave them repose. Then I doubt much the salubrity of a place which must, in winter, receive a scanty portion of the sun's rays, and probably a large share of rain and snow. But above all, whatever may be the security of this remarkable hollow, I fear we might soon learn to regard it as a prison."

"No! no! Tom," cried Jack, "Esperanza for ever! We will rebuild our houses, fortify our walls, and never despair."

"That is right, Jack," said Matilda, "remember the tale of Lame Jervas: 'May good faith always meet with good fortune.'

The little vale was certainly very beautiful. From the lofty heights above, the beech, the tall pine, and drooping b rob looked down upon them, and a thick clothing of bushes covered the face of the rocks, forming an aviary for birds of gay plumage and musical notes; festoons of elegant creepers clung from branch to branch; and late as the season was, the | | 301 crimson flowers of the fuschia shone through the dark foliage, and many of the bright blossoms of summer, scattered near the rivulet, lingered still in that sheltered retreat , whilst among the sedgy bushes, on the side of the water, the beautiful kingfisher had its nest.

Another day elapsed, the provision became scarce, the bread, being quite exhausted; and Nanny declared, that if she had a certain iron plate which was secreted in the cave at Esperanza, she could bake cakes over the fire. Mrs. Merton trembled at the thought of the expedition; but Almagro agreeing to remain with her, she at length permitted the young men to set out, to ascertain the state of their beloved home.

They proceeded with caution, and after crossing the river, they went through the wood to the rock at the back of the old hut, from whence they surveyed the scene of devastation. Ascertaining the perfect solitude of the spot, they descended among the ruins, and looked round in mournful silence. They crossed the garden, trodden down and strewn with charred wood and uprooted fruit trees, and on. approaching the church, were surprised to find it entire, except that the bell was removed. Either Paul's intercession, or a superstitious feeling,--for they could not attribute it to reverence, must have preserved it; for not only the building was perfect, but it appeared to have been un-entered, for everything was in its place.

They were glad to have this good news to carry to Mr. Merton, for all else was destroyed, except a few patches of fence which had escaped the conflagration, and the brick oven which stood firm amidst the ruins of the pretty house they had been so proud to complete.

"If we had only had time to take out the glass windows," said Tom, "we might have saved them; now, when winter comes, we must have the cold blast and the snow come drifting in through the openings which we call windows."

"This winter," said Lewis, "our mansion will be proof against storms, for we cannot leave our present residence at any rate before spring. Remember, we shall have to raise the houses from the ground, no easy task, and not to be attempted in winter."

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The fences of the little grass fields were torn down, and the cattle taken away, as well as those in the corral; but the corn-fields and the flax-plot were uninjured, and they hoped to sow them before long; but such an attempt was not yet prudent.

They took from the cave the iron girdle-pan, a bag of charqui, and some mattresses and pillows, all they ventured to carry; though Jack was tempted to catch some of the poultry which had returned to peek about in the old poultry-yard, but Lewis dissuaded him from increasing the cares of the establishment, when the fowls were better provided for in their state of liberty.

But Nanny was gratified to hear of the safety of the faithful flock, and to receive an augmentation of the scanty stores; but to prevent the necessity of such an act of inhospitality as devouring their inmates, the pigeons, the young men proceeded to the Pampas to look out for some fresh meat. They proceeded along the banks of their own river, where they could always obtain the shelter of the wood, and about two miles from their usual ford they at last caught sight of a herd of animals. They stole along, under the shelter of the trees, and, determined not to use the rifle except for defence, they held the bolas and lassoes in readiness.

Jack was considerably in advance of the rest, and they were surprised to see him stop suddenly clapping his hands, and laughing loudly. "Here are some old friends of ours," he cried out, "come to greet us." And, in truth, the party of animals consisted of the two cows they had released before the attack, the two old llamas, and Almagro's mule. The creatures knew their friends immediately; the mule and llamas evinced much satisfaction at the meeting, running up to them, neighing and bleating in their several tongues; and though the cows showed less sensibility, they submitted with the rest of the animals to be driven to the foot of the hill beneath the vale of refuge.

The llamas and mule were driven or dragged through the wood with much difficulty; but to attempt to force the unwieldly and inactive cows up the ascent, was a task quite beyond the powers of the drivers. They called Nanny and Matilda, the two most intimate friends of the refractory quadru- | | 303 pods, and proceeded to tell them their adventure and their dilemma.

Tom suggested that the cows might be left to graze in the valley below; and he had no doubt they would still consent to be milked as usual.

"I shall never try them down there," said Nanny, with her usual decision. "How, think you, could I hug a bucket of milk up that wood, that's little better than a well side?"

Nanny and Matilda then scrambled to the ridge of the hill, and saw the poor cows in the valley below, looking up and lowing piteously after their departed companions. It needed only Nanny's well-known cry of "Cush! cush!" to nerve the obedient animals to make a vigorous attempt to ascend through the wood, and after much toil they succeeded, and were greeted by the dairy-maids with caresses and a feast of maize.

At present the rich pasture afforded sufficient food for all the live stock, though it would be necessary to lay up some provision for them before winter. The cows, so well fed gave abundance of milk, and Nanny observed, that there never could be a famine where there was a good cow. But by slow degrees they brought from their hidden store sufficient provision to insure them against famine during the winter; and as there had been no reappearance of the Indians, they ventured to use their horses and the mule, and were thus enabled to bring Nanny's churn, mill, and spinning-wheel, with drawing, writing, and work-boxes, to give employment to the ladies.

At length they brought the carpenter's tools, and were soon able, from the trunk of a fallen pine, to make a table and some seats. In the meantime they daily collected all the pinones they could find fallen, or could knock down, to store for the cattle; but still they feared that the stock of maize must suffer, if the snow lay on the ground, for their faithful servants must at all events be fed.

A month elapsed, during which time they became reconciled to their rocky abode, which, lighted up by the good fires which the season required, looked cheerful; the bushes around the vale supplied abundant fuel and they had no scruple in raising a blaze that shone brightly on the lofty glittering walls. | | 304 Then the young men constructed an improved loom for their sisters, and after Fanny had spun the flax they had saved, they wove it into coarse linen; while the young carpenter worked at their bench, making tables, stools, bedsteads, window-frames, doors, ladders, and all manner of useful preparations, for the houses to be built in the spring.

But the early part of the day was usually spent by the industrious youths of Esperanza, where they once more ploughed and sowed their little fields, in good faith that God might permit them to reap the fruits in due season. The miserable garden was dug, a few shrubs and bushes that were only broken, were trimmed and restored; the buried flower-roots were again planted, and spring was looked forward to in hope; they forgot the desolation: the spot was again "Esperanza."

Jack built a shed for the poultry, and scattered some maize occasionally, which induced them to frequent the place; and he was generally able to take home a basket of eggs; a pleasant addition to their diet.

Many an evening as they sat round the fire, working and conversing, they wondered they had never seen Paul, and hoped he had not forgotten them; but this doubt Mr. Merton would not allow. "Paul is a believer in God, my dear children," he would say, "and he will ever associate us with the happiness of his conversion."

One evening, as the party were talking thus of the young Indian, they were startled by a rustling among the bushes before the entrance; Jack seized his rifle, and was rushing forward, but Lewis laid his hand on him. "Stay, Jack," he said, "do not be rash; we are perfectly safe, for neither man nor beast can enter without our leave." For every night, before they retired, they rolled a huge piece of mock before the narrow entrance, which it was impossible to remove from the exterior.

A low whine, succeeded by a joyful bark, proclaimed who the intruder was; the rock was immediately rolled away, and Wallace rushed in perfectly wild with joy, and careered round the cave with all the antics of a young kitten, to the great mirth of the girls. But their laughter was soon changed into astonishment and pleasure, when Paul followed the dog into the cave. Mr. Merton certainly cast a glance of apprehen- | | 305 sion at the entrance; but Lewis having ascertained that Paul was alone, the stone was replaced, and the friends sat down to tell their several adventures. Paul looking round first at the prison-like walls so repugnant to the taste of the free Indian, said:

"It was Paul who drove his friends to this dark house in the rock! Why were the fair Christians so kind to him? why did they heal his wounds, and make him a son of God? Why did they not leave him to die, with parched lips, on the blood-stained ground, where he lay like a conquered slave? Then the Christians might have rested undisturbed in their peaceful huts; then the fair girls might still have sung like the bright birds of the woods, and danced on the grassy plains in happiness. It was Paul who brought to the home of his friends woe and destruction. Can they still hold out the hand of amity, and say, 'Paul, you are our friend?'"

As Paul stood folded in his poncho, he appeared to have added years instead of months to his age since they parted, and to speak the Spanish language with more of the idiom of his own than when formerly familiarly conversing with the friends who now encircled hint, assuring him, with earnest kindness, that they loved him no less, though he was unable to restrain the aggressions of his people.

Be told them that his mother had peremptorily refused to hear his intercession for the Christians. She had, during his absence, assumed the command of his people, and her imperious spirit scorned the idea of concession. She rebuked him for his woman's heart, and ordered him to be guarded by some of his own warriors. By assuring the men that the God of the Christians would send down fire from heaven to destroy them if they entered the house where he dwelt, he terrified them into sparing the church. But he had seen with deep sorrow, the gardens, the shady arbors, the aviary, the pleasant halls of his dear friends burnt, plundered, and demolished; and he followed his mother, silent and melancholy, while the Indians divided to scour the plains, to discover and murder the fugitives.

On their arrival at the tolderia, Paul, released from his durance, recovered his energy, and poured on the amazed ear of his mother his tale of the wonders, the charms, the sweet humanity of Christianity; and when the disappointed warriors returned, he harangued them on the guilt of bloodshed | | 306 --on the excellence of peace. He told them, that by their unprovoked attack on the Christians, they had incurred the vengeance of the great God. Then, his mother, with a daring spirit, had answered:--"it was my will to go forth against the Christians; upon my head may the vengeance fall!"

"The tribe were all silent," continued Paul, "appalled by my mother's daring words. She still continued to lead the tribe when we departed for our own grounds, and chose to mount the noble and fiery Pampero. He tossed his beautiful head as the men arrayed him in unaccustomed harness, and spurned the ground when my mother mounted, as if he knew that he carried an enemy. When the procession moved, some of the men began to ring the bell, which I had forbidden them to remove, but the temptation had been irresistible; Pampero started at the sound, seized the bit in his teeth, and fled forward like the lightning. I followed my mother in terror, but she waved me from her; she was a perfect horsewoman, and had never lost her seat. Onward scoured the excited animal; still she sat firmly, and I trusted the horse would soon be exhausted. Suddenly he fell to the earth, and I know he must have trodden on a bescachero, an accident our trained horses avoid by scenting the spots where the animals burrow.

"My people, struck with fright, did not move; and when I reached the spot, I found the animal struggling over the prostrate and insensible form of my mother. I extricated the horse without much injury, and then lifting my mother in my arms, I saw, by the way the limbs hung, that one arm and one leg must be broken; what other injuries she had sustained could not yet be known.

"My people came up, and we placed her on a blanket, and bore her to a place where the toldos could be raised. Then she was placed under the roof of her own tent, and the base impostors of the tribe, who practise incantations, and invoke the spirit of evil, came to her; but she had revived, and she dismissed them with stern and bitter words. Her acute mind had detected their impostures; but her haughty spirit refused to submit to the true God.

"I bound her fractured limbs in shields of bark; I wetted her parched lips with cool water, as you had done for me. I | | 307 prayed her to allow me to go in search of the wonderful medicine-man who had restored me to life; but, with her usual stern authority, she forbade me. 'The hand of death is on me,' she said. 'No medicine-man can raise me to life, and your friend would be slain by the tribe. But can it be that the wife and mother of noble Caciques must die ignobly, because she disdains to submit to the God of the Christians? Have the imprecations of the subtle white man brought this disgrace on our tribe? Speak, and tell me, Bysanti.'

"I did speak: I repeated the words you had spoken to me; I spoke of the God of love and mercy, whose vengeance is terrible to the wicked, but whose love is happiness for ever to those who know him. I told her that even the sorrowful pains of death became joyful to the Christian, for he knew they would usher him into the visible presence of his God.

"I cannot speak as you can, good father, and my mother loved not to hear the word of instruction from her child. Long did her powerful and strong mind struggle against conflicting doubts. Daily her body became weaker--daily her mind became more enlightened: she listened with more attention to my earnest prayers. Her power on earth bad been crushed in a moment; and at length she learned to aspire to a nobler future than the idle dreams of hunting-fields and wars. Slowly she woke to the conviction of her own useless waste of God's good gifts; she acknowledged with humility her unworthiness, and her last days were devoted to prayer, with faith in that mercy which you had taught me would be largely given, when faithfully prayed for."

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