The senator hesitated as long as Cæsar did at the famous passage of the Rubicon; at length, as there were no means of doing otherwise, Don Ramón very unwillingly spurred on his horse, and advanced towards the ford, recommending himself to the protection of all the saints of the Spanish golden legend.
The horse was tired, but the smell of the water renovated its strength, and it cantered gaily on with the infallible instinct of these noble beasts, without pausing in the inextricable windings which crossed each other in the high grass. Although the river was not yet visible, Don Ramón could hear the roaring of the waters. He was passing by, at the moment, a dark hill, from the thickly-wooded sides of which proceeded, at intervals, sounds which he could not make out. The animal too, as much alarmed as its master, pricked up its ears and redoubled its speed. Don Ramón scarcely ventured to breathe, and looked in all directions with the greatest terror. He was close to the ford, when suddenly a rough voice smote his ear and rendered him as motionless as if he had been changed into a block of marble. Half a score Indian warriors surrounded him on all sides; these warriors were commanded by Black Stag.
It was a strange circumstance, but when the first moment of terror was past, the senator completely recovered himself--now that he knew what he had to trust to, the danger which he had so long dreaded was before him, but less terrific than he had supposed it to be. Black Stag examined him carefully, and at length placed his hand upon the bridle of his horse, saying, as he endeavoured to recall a half-effaced remembrance--
"It seems to me that I have seen the paleface somewhere?"
"To be sure," the senator replied; "we are old friends."
"I am not the friend of the Huincas," the Indian said, sternly.
"I mean," Don Ramón corrected himself, "we are old acquaintances."
"Hum!" the senator said; "I am doing nothing."
"Let the paleface reply clearly; a chief is questioning him," Black Stag said, frowning.
"I ask no better," Don Ramón replied, in a conciliating tone. "Question me."
"Where am I going? When you stopped me I was preparing to cross the Bio Bio."
"Good! And when you had crossed the Bio Bio?"