"Who will keep watch tonight?" Lanzi at length asked, as he passed the stem of his pipe through his belt; "We are surrounded by people amongst whom it is wise to take precautions." "That is true," said Loyal Heart; "do you sleep, and I will watch for all." "One moment," the Canadian said; "if sleep does not too greatly overpower you. Lanzi, we will profit by Carmela's absence to hold a council. The situation in which we are is intolerable for a girl, and we must make up our minds to some course at once. Unluckily, I know not what to do, and your ideas will hardly suffice, I fear, to get me out of my embarrassment." "I am at your orders, Tranquil," Lanzi answered; "let us hold a council, and I will make up for it by sleeping faster." "Speak, my friend," said Loyal Heart. The hunter reflected for a moment, and then continued-- "Life is rough in the desert for delicate natures: we men, accustomed to fatigue, and hardened to privations, not only support it without thinking of it, but even find delight in it." "That is true," Loyal Heart observed; "but the dangers that men such as we can bear, it would be unjust and cruel to inflict on a woman,--a maiden who has hardly emerged from childhood, and whose life has hitherto passed exempt from care, privations, or fatigue of any description." "Yes," Lanzi supported him. "That is the very point," Tranquil continued; "though it will cost me a pang to part with her, Carmela can no longer remain with us." "It would kill her," said Loyal Heart. "It would not take long, poor little darling," Lanzi pouted. "Yes: but to whom can I trust her now that the venta is destroyed?" "It is a difficult point," Lanzi observed. "Stay," said Loyal Heart, "are you not tigrero to the Larch-tree hacienda?" "I am." "There you have it," the Half-breed exclaimed. "That is a good idea. It would not have occurred to me." "What idea?" the Canadian asked. "The master of the hacienda," Loyal Heart continued, "will not refuse to receive Carmela in his house." The hunter shook his head in denial. "No, no," he said, "if I once asked the favour of him, I feel certain he would consent; but it cannot be." "Why?" "Because the owner of the Larch-tree is not the man we need to protect a girl." "Hum!" Loyal Heart said, "Our situation is growing more complicated, for I know nobody else who would take charge of her." "Nor I either, and that is what vexes me. Listen!" Loyal Heart suddenly exclaimed, "I do not know. Heaven pardon me, where my head was that I did not think of it at once. Do not be alarmed: I know somebody." "Speak, speak." "Come," the half-breed said aside, "this Loyal Heart is really a capital fellow, for he is full of good ideas."