The Mexicans galloped on thus without the slightest incident for about two hours, conversing together about indifferent topics, and apparently as tranquil as if they were not going to meet a probable danger. They had left for some time the banks of the lake which they had hitherto been following, and, turning to the right, entered a narrow track, the bed of a dried-up torrent, encased between two hills over which mighty oaks formed a dense dome of verdure which the sunbeams could not penetrate. "The Giant's Peak is only a league and a half to our left," Don Aurelio said to the Canadian. "In that case," the latter quietly replied, "we shall soon come up with our friends; they must be waiting for us at the end of that canyon." In fact, when the travellers passed through the species of defile in which they were, they saw, about fifty yards ahead of them, a party of horsemen drawn up in good order, at whose head Don Aurelio recognized, with a delight he did not attempt to conceal, the worthy adventurer. The two bands were soon commingled. "Thanks," the Mexican said with a smile to the Canadian; "you are a man of your word." "Did you doubt it?" the other remarked. "Certainly not." And they continued their journey at a gallop. They had at the most but two leagues to go ere they reached the hacienda. Moonshine spurred his horse, which soon carried him twenty yards ahead of the party. "Where are you going?" Don Aurelio shouted to him. "To scout," the hunter answered; "let me alone. We must not fall into a wasps' nest." "Go on, my friend," said the Mexican. The hunter went off; but a quarter of an hour had scarce elapsed ere his comrades saw him returning at full gallop, and making them signs to halt, which they obeyed. "Oh, oh!" Moonshine exclaimed, so soon as he had rejoined them, "the warning was good: whether angel or demon, the person who gave it was well informed." "Explain, explain," his hearers shouted. "Silence," the hunter replied. "Listen!" All did so; and then the distant detonation of firearms could be distinctly heard. "What is happening?" Don Aurelio asked, a prey to the liveliest anxiety. "A very simple thing," the hunter answered; "two or three hundred Indians, or at least men dressed in their garb, are furiously attacking the hacienda, the inhabitants of which are offering the most vigorous resistance." "¡Caray! Comrades, we must hasten to their assistance," Don Aurelio exclaimed. "That is also my opinion; but take my advice; let us not act rashly, but take our precautions, for these Indians appear to me suspicious; they manage their pieces too well, and take too good an aim to be real redskins, and Indians would never venture to attack in open daylight a fortress like the one before us." "Then your opinion is--" "That they are disguised Spaniards, viva Dios, and nought else."