"Well?" she asked at the end of a moment.
"Leave me to act; draw in the blockading force, so that it would be impossible for our foe to pass, even if he assumed the shape of a prairie dog, and wait without stirring."
"No; for two days, three at the most; is that too long?"
"I will keep it, or, to speak more correctly, my uncle shall keep it for me."
"One word more. You know how my friend Don Miguel Zarate suffered through Red Cedar, I think?"
"You know the villain killed his daughter?"
"Yes," she said, with a tremor in her voice, "I know it; but trust to me; Don Valentine; I swear to you that Don Miguel shall be more fully avenged than ever he hoped to be."
"Good; if at the end of three days I grant you, justice is not done on that villain, I will undertake it, and I swear in my turn that it will be terrible."
"To join Bloodson, and carry him your answer."
White Gazelle leaped lightly on her horse, which was fastened ready saddled to a tree, and set off at a gallop, waving her hand to the hunter for the last time in thanks.
"What a singular creature!" Valentine muttered.
As day had dawned during this conversation, the Trail-hunter proceeded toward Unicorn's calli, to assemble the great chiefs in council. So soon as the hunter entered the lodge, Don Pablo, who had hitherto remained motionless, pretending to sleep, suddenly rose.
"Good Heavens!" he exclaimed as he clasped his hands fervently. "How to save poor Ellen? If she falls into the hands of that fury, she is lost."
Then, after a moment's reflection, he ran toward Unicorn's calli: Valentine came out of it at the moment the young man reached the door.
"Where are you going to at that rate, my friend?" he asked him.
"A horse?" Valentine said in surprise; "What to do?"
The Mexican gave him a glance of strange meaning.
"To go to Bloodson's camp," he said resolutely.
A sad smile played round the Trail-hunter's lips. He pressed the young man's hand, saying in a sympathising voice--"Poor lad!"
"Let me go, Valentine, I implore you," he said earnestly.
The hunter unfastened a horse that was nibbling the young tree shoots in front of the lodge. "Go," he said, sadly, "go where your destiny drags you."
The young man thanked him warmly, leaped on the horse, and started off at full speed. Valentine looked after him for some time, and when the rider had disappeared, he gave vent to a profound sigh, as he murmured: