Lanzi took the bridle between his teeth, seized a pistol in either hand, and when he judged the moment propitious, he dug his spurs into his horse, dashed out in front of the Redskins, and crossed their front diagonally. When within range, he fired his pistols into the group, gave a yell of defiance, and continued his flight with redoubled speed. What the half-breed expected, really happened. His shots had told, and two Apaches fell with their chests pierced through and through. The Indians, furious at this audacious attack, which they were far from expecting from a single man, uttered a cry of fury, and dashed after him. This was exactly what Lanzi wanted. "There," he said on seeing the success of his scheme; "they are altogether now, and there is no fear of their scattering; the others are saved. As for me--bah, who knows?" Doña Carmela and the hunter only escaped from the Apaches to fall in with the jaguars. We have seen how they were saved, thanks to Tranquil. CHAPTER XX. THE CONFESSION. Tranquil attentively listened to the girl's story with drooping head and frowning brows; when she had finished, he looked at her for a moment enquiringly. "Is that all?" he asked her. "All," she answered timidly. "And Lanzi, my poor Lanzi, have you no news of him?" "None. We heard two shots, the furious galloping of several horses, the war-cry of the Apaches, and then all became silent again." "What can have become of him?" the tigrero muttered sadly. "He is resolute, and seems to me conversant with desert life," Loyal Heart said. "Yes," Tranquil replied, "but he is alone." "That is true," said the hunter; "alone against fifty, perhaps." "Oh, I would give ten years of my life," the Canadian exclaimed, "to have some news of him." "Caray, gossip," a merry voice replied; "I have brought you some all fresh, and shall charge you nothing for them." The hearers started involuntarily at the sound of this voice, and turned quickly to the side where they heard it. The branches parted, and a man appeared. It was Lanzi. The half-breed seemed as calm and composed as if nothing extraordinary had happened to him; but his face, usually so cold, now had an indescribable expression of cunning joy, his eyes sparkled, and a mocking smile played about his lips. "By Jove! Our friend," Tranquil said as he offered him a hand; "you are a thousand times welcome, for our anxiety about you was great." "Thank you, gossip; but, luckily for me, the danger was not so imminent as might be supposed, and I very easily succeeded in getting rid of those demons of Apaches." "All the better; no matter how you contrived to escape, here you are safe and sound, so all is for the best; now that we have met again, they may come if their heart tells them to do so, and they will find somebody to talk to them." "They will not do it; besides, they have something else on hand at this moment." "Do you think so?"