ve"
promised a _better opportunity_.

With an effort, therefore, I restrained myself, and resolved to wait.

I listened for the reply of Isolina; I watched her as well; I noted her
every movement.

I saw that she pointed to her limbs--to the thong-fastenings around her
ankles.

"How can I follow you?" she inquired, in a calm voice, and in a tone of
surprise. Surely that tone was feigned. Surely she meditated some
design?

"True," said the man, turning back, and drawing the knife from his belt.
"Carrai! I had not thought of that; but we shall soon--"

He did not finish the sentence; he stopped in the middle of it, and in
an attitude that betokened hesitation.

In this attitude he remained awhile, gazing into the eyes of his victim:
then, as if suddenly changing his mind, he struck the knife back into
his sheath, and at the same time cried out--

"By the Virgin! I shall not trust you. You are too free of limb, sweet
_margarita_! you might try to give me the slip. This is a better plan.
Come! raise yourself up--a little higher--so. Now we go--now for the
grove. _Vamos_!"

While delivering the last words, the ruffian bent himself over the
half-prostrate captive; and, placing his arm underneath, wound it around
her waist. He then raised her upward until her bosom rested upon his--
the bosom of my betrothed in juxtaposition with the painted breast of
this worse than savage!

I saw it, and slew him not; I saw it, and kept cool--I can scarcely tell
why, for it is not a characteristic of my nature. My nerves, from being
so much played upon during the preceding hours, had acquired the
firmness of steel; perhaps this enabled me to endure the sight--this,
combined with the almost certain prospect of an improved opportunity.

At all events, I kept cool, and remained in my place though only for a
moment longer.

CHAPTER NINETY NINE.

THE CRISIS.

The renegade, having raised the unresisting captive in his arms,
proceeded to carry her from the spot. He scarcely carried her; her
feet, naked and bound, trailed along the grass, both together.

He passed the lodge, and was going towards the copse, in an oblique
direction. The savages who saw him made no attempt to interfere,
shouted some lewd phrases, and laughed!

I waited neither to see nor hear more.

Still keeping within the timber, I glided along its edge; with quick but
noiseless step I went, making for the same point towards which the
ruffian