All the Mexicans had fallen, it is true, but the victory had cost the pirates dear; more than half of them were killed. The general's Negro, armed with an enormous club, which he had made of the trunk of a young tree, for a long time resisted all who attempted to take him, crushing without mercy all who imprudently came within reach of the weapon which he handled with such uncommon dexterity. His enemies at length succeeded in lassoing him, and casting him half-strangled to the ground; the captain, however, came to his rescue at the moment when a pirate was raising his arm to put an end to him. As soon as the captain found the general incapable of moving, he uttered a cry of joy, and without stopping to stanch the blood of two wounds he had received he bounded like a tiger over the body of his enemy, who was writhing powerless at his feet, and penetrated into the tent. It was empty! Doña Luz had disappeared. The captain was thunderstruck! What could have become of the girl? The tent was small, almost void of furniture, it was impossible she could be concealed in it. A disordered bed proved that at the moment of the surprise, Doña Luz had been sleeping peaceably. She had vanished like a sylph, without leaving any trace of her flight. A flight perfectly incomprehensible to the pirate, as the camp had been invaded on all sides at once. How was it possible for a young girl, awakened suddenly, to have had courage and presence of mind enough to fly so quickly, and pass unperceived amidst conquerors whose first care had been to guard all the issues? The captain sought in vain the solution of this enigma. He stamped with anger, and plunged his poniard into the packages that might serve as temporary places of refuge for the fugitive; but all without success. Convinced at length that all his researches in the tent were in vain, he rushed out, prowling about like a wild beast, persuaded that if by a miracle she had succeeded in escaping, alone in the night, half dressed, wandering in the desert, he should easily find her again. In the meantime, the pillage went on with a celerity and an order in its disorder, which did honour to the practical knowledge of the pirates. The conquerors, fatigued with killing and robbing, plunged their poniards into the skins filled with mezcal, and an orgie soon succeeded theft and murder. All at once a loud and fierce cry resounded at a little distance, and a shower of bullets came pattering full upon the bandits. Surprised in their turn, they flew to their arms, and endeavoured to rally. At the same instant, a mass of Indians appeared, bounding like jaguars among the packages, closely followed by a troop of hunters, at the head of whom were Loyal Heart, Belhumeur, and Black Elk. The position became critical for the pirates.