"You will permit me to remark, Señor," Tranquil replied still with the same placid air, "that the question appears to me singular at the least in your mouth. I simply wish to take back my daughter, whom you carried off." "Your daughter?" the other said ironically. "Yes, Señor, my daughter." "Could you prove to me that this young person is really your daughter?" "What do you mean by that remark?" "I mean that Doña Carmela is no more your daughter than she is mine; that consequently our claims are equal, and that I am no more obliged to surrender her than you have a right to claim her." "That is very vexatious," the hunter said mockingly. "Is it not?" the White Scalper said. Tranquil gave an ironical smile. "I fancy you are strangely mistaken, Señor," he said with his old calmness. "Ah!" "Listen to me for a few moments. I will not encroach on your time, which no doubt is valuable. I am only a poor hunter, Señor, ignorant of worldly affairs, and the subtleties of civilization. Still, I believe that the man who adopts a child in the cradle, takes care of it, and brings it up with a tenderness and love that have never failed, is more truly its father than the man who, after giving it life, abandons it and pays no farther attention to it; such is my idea of paternity, Señor. Perhaps I am mistaken; but, in my idea, as I have no lessons or orders to receive from you, I shall act as I think proper, whether you like it or no. Come, my dear Carmela, we have remained here too long as it is." The maiden bounded to her feet, and placed herself by the hunter's side. "One moment, Señor," the Scalper exclaimed; "you have learned how to enter this house, but you do not yet know how to leave it." And seizing two pistols lying on a table, he pointed them at the hunter, while shouting--"Help! help!" Tranquil quietly raised his rifle to his shoulder. "I should be delighted at your showing me the road," he said peaceably. A dozen slaves and Mexican soldiers rushed tumultuously into the room. "Ah, ah!" said the Scalper, "I fancy I have you at last, old Tiger-killer." "Nonsense," a mocking voice replied; "not yet." At this moment the Captain and his men dashed through the window which had afforded the Canadian a passage into the room, and uttered a fearful yell. An indescribable medley and confusion then began: the lights were extinguished, and the slaves, mostly unarmed, and not knowing with how many enemies they had to deal, fled in all directions. The Scalper was carried away by the stream of fugitives, and disappeared with them. The Texans took advantage of the stupor of their enemy to evacuate the rancho, and effect their retreat. "Father," the maiden exclaimed, "I felt certain you would come." "Oh!" the hunter said with ineffable delight, "you are at length restored to me." "Make haste! Make haste!" the Captain shouted; "Who knows whether we may not be crushed by superior forces in an instant?"