"I will not allow it," the young man answered, violently; "the land you are trespassing on so impertinently belongs to my sister, Doña Clara de Bejar; I will not suffer it to be invaded with impunity by vagabonds of your description. _¡Viva Dios!_ You will decamp at once, my master, or, if not--" "If not?" the buccaneer asked, with eyes flashing fire, while the Major-domo, foreseeing a catastrophe, prudently glided behind his master. As for the latter, he stood cool and impassive before the buccaneer, resolved to take the offensive vigorously, if he saw him make the slightest suspicious gesture. But, contrary to all expectation, the adventurer's menacing look became almost suddenly calm, his features resumed their usual expression of nonchalance; and it was in an almost friendly tone, in spite of its roughness, that he said-- "Halloh! What name was that you mentioned, if you please?" "That of the owner of this savannah." "I suppose so," the adventurer replied, laughing; "but may I ask you to repeat the name?" "That is of no consequence, my master," the young man said disdainfully, for he fancied that his adversary was backing out of the quarrel; "the name I uttered is that of Doña Clara de Bejar of Sousa." "Et cetera," the buccaneer said, with a laugh, "these devils of gavachos have names for every day in the year. Come, don't be angry, my young cock," he added, remarking the flush which the expression he had employed spread over the Count's face; "we are, perhaps, nearer an understanding than you imagine--what would you gain by a fight with me? Nothing; and you might, on the contrary, lose a great deal." "I do not understand your words," the young man answered drily, "but I hope you are about to explain them." "It will not take long, as you shall see," the other said tauntingly, and, turning to the forest, he raised his hands to his mouth in the shape of a speaking trumpet. "Eh! L'Olonnais!" he shouted. "Hola!" a man immediately answered, whom the denseness of the forest in which he was hidden rendered invisible. "Come here, my son," the buccaneer continued, "I believe we have found your little matter." "Ah, ah!" L'Olonnais, still invisible, replied, "I must have a look at it." The young Count did not know what to think of this new incident which seemed about to change the state of affairs; he feared a coarse jest on the part of these half-savage men. He hesitated between giving way to the passion that was boiling within him, or patiently awaiting the result of the buccaneer's summons; but a secret foreboding urged him to restrain himself and act prudently with these men, who did not appear animated by an evil design against him, and whose manners, though quick and rough, were still friendly.