The two women were sad and pale, their faces looked worn, and their red eyes showed they had been weeping. As soon as Belhumeur perceived them, he advanced towards them, bowing respectfully. "Has not my son returned yet?" the old lady asked, anxiously. "Not yet," the hunter replied, "but keep up your spirits, señora, it will not be long before he is here." "Good God! I do not know why, but it seems as if he must be detained at a distance from us by some untoward event." "No, señora, I should know if he were so. When I left him last night, for the purpose of tranquillizing you, and executing the orders he gave me, he was in an excellent situation; therefore, believe me, be reassured, and, above all, have confidence." "Alas!" the poor woman murmured, "I have lived for twenty years in continual agony, every night dreading not to see my son on the morrow; my God! will you not then have pity on me!" "Have comfort, dear señora," said Doña Luz, affectionately, and with a gentle kiss: "Oh! I know that if Loyal Heart at this moment be in danger, it is to save my poor uncle; my God!" she added, fervently, "grant that he may succeed!" "All will soon be cleared up, ladies, be assured by me, and you know I would not deceive you." "Yes," said the old lady, "you are good, you love my son, and you would not be here if he had anything to dread." "You judge me rightly, señora, and I thank you for it. I cannot, at the present moment, tell you anything, but I implore you to have a little patience; let it suffice for you to know that he is labouring to render the señorita happy." "Oh! yes," said the mother, "always good, always devoted!" "And therefore was he named Loyal Heart," the maiden murmured, with a blush. "And never was name better merited," the hunter exclaimed proudly. "A man must have lived a long time with him, and know him as well as I know him, in order to appreciate him properly." "Thanks, in my turn, for all you say of my son, Belhumeur," the old lady replied, pressing the callous hand of the hunter. "I speak nothing but the truth, señora; I am only just, that is all. Oh! things would go on well in the prairies if all hunters were like him." "Good heavens! time passes, will he never come?" she murmured, looking around with feverish impatience. "Very soon, señora." "I wish to be the first to see him and salute him on his arrival!" "Unfortunately that is impossible." "Why so?" "Your son charged me to beg you, as well as Señora Luz, to retire into the grotto; he is anxious that you should not be present at the scene that is about to take place here." "But," said Doña Luz, anxiously, "how shall I know if my uncle be saved or not?" "Be assured, señorita, that you shall not remain in uncertainty long. But I beg you not to remain here. Go in, go in." "Perhaps it will be best to do so," the old lady observed. "Let us be obedient, darling," she added, smiling on the girl; "let us go in, since my son requires it."