"This morning, the conducta set out, escorted by the Captain; two or three ill-looking fellows, who remained at the venta, watched the soldiers depart with a cunning smile, then sat down, began drinking and saying to me things a girl ought not to hear, until at last they even threatened me." "Ah!" Tranquil interrupted her, with a frown, "Do you know the scoundrels?" "No, father, they are border ruffians, like those of whom there are too many about here; but, though I have seen them several times, I do not know their names." "No matter, I will discover them, you may feel assured. "Oh, father, you would do wrong to trouble yourself about that." "Very well, that is my business." "Fortunately for me, while this was occurring, a horseman arrived, whose presence was sufficient to impose silence on these men, and force them to become what they should always have been, that is to say, polite and respectful to me." "Of course," the Canadian remarked, laughingly, "this caballero, who arrived so fortunately, was a friend of yours?" "Only an acquaintance, father," she said, with a slight blush. "Ah! very good." "But he is a great friend of yours--at least, I suppose so." "Hum! And pray do you know _his_ name, my child?" "Of course," she replied, quickly. "And what is it, may I ask, if you have no objection to tell me?" "None at all; he is called the Jaguar." "Oh, oh!" the hunter continued, with a frown, "What could he have to do at the venta?" "I do not know, father; but he said a few words in a low voice to the men of whom I have told you, who immediately left the talk, mounted their horses, and started at a gallop without making the slightest remark." "That is strange," the Canadian muttered. There was a rather lengthened silence; Tranquil was deep in thought, and was evidently seeking the solution of a problem, which appeared to him very difficult to solve. At length he raised his head. "Is that all you have to tell me?" he asked the girl; "up to the present I see nothing very extraordinary in all you have told me." "Wait a while," she said. "Then you have not finished yet?" "Not yet." "Very good--go on." "Although the Jaguar spoke in a low voice with these men, through some words I overheard, without wishing to do so, I assure you, father--" "I am fully persuaded of that. What did you guess from these few words?" "I mean, I fancied I understood--" "It is the same thing; go on." "I fancied I understood, I say, that they were speaking of the conducta." "And very naturally of Captain Melendez, eh?" "I am certain that they mentioned his name." "That is it. Then you supposed that the Jaguar intended to attack the conducta, and possibly kill the Captain, eh?" "I do not say that," the maiden stammered, in extreme embarrassment. "No, but you fear it." "Good Heavens, father!" she went on, in a tone of vexation, "Is it not natural that I should take an interest in a brave officer who--"