"I have also sacrificed another victim to my hatred, the boy I carried off and entrusted to the Sumach." "Well?" the Canadian said, with a cunning look, with the evident intention of drawing the redskin into a thorough confession. "Yes, yes," the chief continued bitterly, "I know that all the palefaces are cowards, and that this one betrayed me." The adventurer gave a start of passion, which was at once checked. "That boy," the sachem exclaimed with cruel delight, "Don Aníbal educated as if he were his own son. Ah, ah! That handsome Don Melchior Díaz!" "Well?" the count said, with feverish impatience. "He was your son; but he is dead--crushed at the foot of a precipice." Oliver leant over the chief, and gently touched his shoulder. "Look, scoundrel!" he said, pointing to the young man who was running up to help the count, "Look, and die in despair, for there is the man whom you believe dead." Running Water raised himself as if sustained by unknown strength; his eyes, dilated by horror and disappointed rage, were fixed on the young man with a terrible expression. "Oh!" he exclaimed in a thundering voice, "All, all saved! the God of the palefaces has conquered!" And he fell back without an effort to prevent it; ere he touched the ground he was dead. * * * * * Don Melchior Díaz was recognized without any difficulty as the count's son, and a year after the events we have narrated married Doña Diana. Don Aníbal de Saldibar, inconsolable at his wife's death, withdrew to a monastery in Mexico; after giving all property to his son-in-law and daughter, he took the vows, but grief had destroyed all his energy. Don Aníbal survived but a short time the death of the woman he had so dearly loved, and, in accordance with his request, was buried by her side. Oliver Clary and his friend Moonshine, in spite of the young Count de Melgosa's earnest entreaties that they would remain with him, made but a short stay at the hacienda. Carried away by the irresistible attractions of a desert life, they resumed their adventurous excursions in the savannah, at the head of their bold cuadrilla, joyously recommencing the happy existence of wood rangers, and carrying with them Diego López, who had always a sneaking affection for the prairie.