naked feet,
and the inexpressible sufferings he endured.

"Seized by one of them," said he, "I was struck by a blow which felled
me to the earth; then I felt the keen edge of a knife trace, as it were,
a circle of fire around my head. I heard a gun fired, a ball hissed
close to my ears, and I lost all consciousness. I cannot tell how many
minutes passed thus. The sound of a second shot caused me to open my
eyes, but the blood which covered my face blinded me; I raised my hand
to my head, which felt both burning and frozen. My skull was bare, the
Indian had torn off the hair with the scalp attached to it. In short,
they had scalped me! That is the reason, Senor, that I now wear this
red handkerchief both by day and by night."

During his recital, a cold perspiration covered the narrator's
countenance. His two listeners shuddered with horror.

After a momentary pause, he continued:

"I ought perhaps to spare you, as well as myself, other sad details."

Gayferos then related to his auditors the unexpected assistance he had
obtained from the three hunters who had taken refuge upon the little
island, and was describing the moment in which Bois-Rose carried him off
in the presence of the Indians, when this heroic action drew from Don
Augustin's lips a cry of admiration.

"But there were then a score on this little island?" interrupted he.

"Reckoning the giant who carried me in his arms there were but three,"
continued the narrator.

"_Santa Virgen_! they were trusty men then--but continue."

The adventurer resumed:

"The companion of him who had carried me in his arms was a man of about
the same age--that is, near five-and-forty. There was, besides, a young
man, of a pale but proud countenance, a sparkling eye, and a sweet
smile; by my faith, a handsome young man, Senorita; such a one as a
father might with pride own as a son--such as a lady might be proud and
happy to see at her feet. During a short interval of calm, which
succeeded the horrible agonies I had suffered, I found time to question
the preservers of my life concerning their names and occupation; but I
could learn nothing from them except that they were hunters, and
travelled for their own pleasure. That was not very probable, still I
made no observation."

Dona Rosarita could not quite suppress a sigh: perhaps she expected to
be reminded of a familiar name.

Gayferos continued the recital of various facts with which the reader is
already