acquainted.

"Alas, Senorita," he continued, "the poor young man was himself captured
by the Indians, and his punishment was to avenge the death of their
companions."

At this part of the narrative, Dona Rosarita's cheek became deadly pale.

"Well, and the young man," interrupted the haciendado, who was almost as
much moved as the daughter, on hearing these sad events, "what became of
him?"

Rosarita, who had remained silent as the narrator proceeded, returned by
a look of tender acknowledgment, the solicitude her father testified for
the young man, for whom in spite of herself, she felt so deep an
interest.

"Three days and three nights were consumed in fearful anguish, relieved
only by a feeble ray of hope. At length on the morning of the fourth
day, we were able unawares to fall upon our sanguinary foes; and after a
desperate struggle, the warlike giant succeeded in reconquering the
youth, who, safe and sound, he again pressed to his heart, calling him
his beloved child."

"Heaven be praised!" exclaimed the haciendado, with a sigh of relief.

Rosarita remained silent, but her colour suddenly returning, testified
to the pleasure she experienced: while a joyous smile lit up her
countenance on hearing the last words of the narrator.

"Continue!" said the haciendado; "but, in your recital, which is deeply
interesting to a man who was himself during six months held captive by
the Indians, I seek in vain for any details relative to poor Don
Estevan's death."

"I am ignorant of them," continued Gayferos, "and I can only repeat the
words spoken by the youngest of the three hunters, when I questioned him
upon the subject."

"He is dead," said the young man to me, "you yourself are the last
survivor of a numerous expedition; when you shall have returned to your
own country--for," added he, with a sigh, "you have perhaps some one,
who in grief numbers the days of your absence--they will question you
concerning the fate of your chief, and the men he commanded. You will
reply to them, that the men died fighting--as to their chief, that he
was condemned by the justice of God, and that the divine sentence
pronounced against him, was executed in the desert. Don Estevan
Arechiza will never again return to his friends."

"Poor Don Estevan!" exclaimed the haciendado.

"And you could never learn the names of these brave, generous, and
devoted men?" asked Dona Rosarita.

"Not at the moment," continued Gayferos; "only