"One moment," said he to them, smiling; "it is not necessary for another mistake to come and embroil us anew at the moment when we are on the point of understanding one another. My friends, who are at some little distance from us, and who do not know what is passing, would suppose me in danger, and come up to my aid. Let me then prove to them that all is finished, and that I consider myself perfectly safe." And taking his pistols by the barrels, he threw them over his head; unbuckled his sabre, and sent it the same way; and then crossed his arms carelessly on his breast. "Now let us talk," said he. This last action of unheard-of boldness literally staggered the mutineers. They acknowledged themselves conquered, and, without wishing to enter upon new explanations, they humbly bowed before the haughty young man, and kissed his hands, swearing devotion under all circumstances, and immediately withdrew with a rapidity which proved their repentance. Some minutes afterwards the mules were unloaded, the horses unsaddled, and the attendants, enveloped in their ponchos, were sleeping, stretched before the watch fires. Émile rejoined his companions--anxious and stationary at the place where he had left them--carelessly twirling a cigarette of maize straw between his nervous fingers. But his countenance was pale, and his eyes had a sombre expression. On his road he found his arms, and again took possession of them. "You have done wonders," said M. Dubois to him, grasping his hand with gratitude. "No," answered he, with a sweet and calm smile; "only I remembered the word of Danton." "What word?" "Boldness. It is only with boldness we can tame wild beasts; and what are men if not savage beasts?" "But you risked your life?" "Have I not said that a long while ago I made that sacrifice? But do not attach, I beg you, more importance to this affair than it really deserves. Everything depended on a firm and prompt resolution. These men were prepared for theft--not for assassination. That is the secret of the matter." "Do not seek to lower the value of an action of which I shall preserve an ever grateful memory." "Bah! What I have done for you today you will do for me tomorrow, and then we shall be quits." "I doubt it. I am not a man for battle. I have only social courage. In an émeute, I am afraid." "Pardieu! So am I; only I do not allow it to be seen. But let us speak no more of this; we have to talk of more important matters--at least, if you would not prefer to resume your sleep, so awkwardly interrupted." "It would be impossible for me to sleep now. I am entirely at your disposal." "Since it is so, let us re-enter the rancho. The nights are cold, the dew frozen. It is of no use for us to be any longer in the open air. You see that our wild revolutionists have taken in good part their defeat, and sleep peaceably. Do not let any of them, who may perhaps be still watching, suppose that we still have any anxiety on their account. Come."