"I accept the responsibility," the Commandant remarked, disdainfully. "Then, the words you have just uttered are serious?" "They are." "You are quite resolved on opposing us?" "Of course." "Your resolution will not change?" "It is immovable." "We will fight, then," the Jaguar exclaimed, enthusiastically. "_Viva la patria, viva la Independencia!_" This cry, repeated by his comrades, was heard in the camp, and taken up with extraordinary enthusiasm by his comrades. "_Viva Mejico!_" the Colonel said. He then retired, followed by his officers. On his side, the Jaguar returned to his camp, resolved to attempt a vigorous hand stroke on the place. On both sides preparations were made for the implacable struggle that was about to begin between members of the same family and children of the same soil; a homicidal and fearful struggle, a hundredfold more horrible than a foreign war! [1] See the "Gold-Seekers," same publishers. CHAPTER XIII. THE SIEGE. While all this was going on, the hunters, as we mentioned before, resumed their journey, so soon as the Apaches disappeared. The night was clear, and the hunters marched in Indian file, that is to say, one after the other; still, through a prudential motive, Carmela was placed pillion-wise behind Tranquil, while Singing-bird rode with Black-deer. The Canadian had whispered a few words to Lanzi and Quoniam, upon which the two men, without replying, dug their spurs in, and started at a gallop. "When you have ladies with you," Tranquil said, with a laugh to Loyal Heart, "it is necessary to take precautions." The hunter, however, did not ask him for any explanation, and the four men continued their march in silence. During the whole night nothing occurred to disturb their journey; the Apaches kept their word faithfully, and had really withdrawn. Tranquil had not for a moment doubted their promise. At times the hunter turned to the maiden, and asked her with ill-disguised anxiety if she felt fatigued, but Carmela constantly replied in the negative. A few minutes before sunrise, he bent down to her for the last time. "Courage," he said, "we shall soon arrive." The girl attempted to smile, but this long night spent on horseback had crushed her; she could not even find the courage to answer, so annihilated was she, and Tranquil, anxious for his daughter, hurried on. Still in the sunbeams, whose warmth caressed her, the maiden felt newborn, her courage returned, and she drew herself up with a sigh of relief. The journey, then, became more gay; for each, on this much desired appearance of day, had forgotten his fatigue and the emotions of the past night. Two hours later they reached the base of a hill, halfway up which was a natural grotto. "Our friends are expecting us there," said Tranquil.