ile the conquerors have divided among them
and made slaves of the survivors! An hundred needy adventurers have
been transformed into grand magnates--each endowed with a portion of the
conquered territory; and at this moment the last descendant of the
Caciques is forced to earn his subsistence almost as a slave--to submit
to the tyranny of a white master--to expose his life daily for the
destruction of fierce beasts, lest they should ravage the flocks and
herds of his thankless employer; while, of the vast plains over which he
is compelled to pursue his perilous calling, there remains to him not a
spot he can call his own--not even the ground occupied by his miserable
hut."

The speaker might have gone on much longer without fear of his hearer
interrupting him. The latter was held mute with astonishment, as well
as by a kind of involuntary respect with which the words of his
companion had inspired him. In all probability the negro had never
before heard that a powerful and civilised people existed in that
country previous to the arrival of the Spaniards. At all events he had
never suspected that the man who was thus enlightening him--the
half-Pagan, half-Christian tiger-hunter--was the descendant of the
ancient masters of Tehuantepec.

As for Costal himself, after making these statements of the former
splendours of his family--in which, notwithstanding his pompous mode of
declaring them, there was much truth--he lapsed into a profound silence;
and, his face turned with a melancholy expression upon the ground, he
took no notice of the effect produced on the mind of his black
companion.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

THE CHASE OF THE JAGUAR.

The sun was gradually inclining towards the horizon, when a prolonged
howl, shrill at first, but ending in a hoarse roar, fell upon the ears
of the two adventurers. It appeared to come from a brake some distance
down the river; but, near or distant, it at once changed the expression
upon the countenance of the negro. Fear took the place of astonishment;
and, on hearing the sound, he sprang suddenly to his feet.

"_Jesus Maria_!" exclaimed he, "it is the jaguar again!"

"Well, what if it be?" said Costal, who had neither risen, nor made the
slightest gesture.

"The jaguar!" repeated the negro in his terror.

"The jaguar? You are mistaken," said Costal.

"God grant that I may be," rejoined the black, beginning to hope that
the sounds had deceived him.

"You are mistaken as t