"On my word, I do not." "He tried to debauch my comrades and supplant me." "Oh, oh! That was rather strong." "Was it not? Fortunately I was watching, and managed to parry the blow; about this time General Santa Anna offered to engage us as a Free Corps." "Oh!" the Jaguar uttered, in disgust. "It was not very tempting," the pirate continued, being mistaken in the young man's exclamation, "but I had an idea." "What was it?" "The one I had the honour of explaining to you a moment back." "Ah! very good." "Hence, I selected thirty resolute men from my band and started to join the Mexican army; of course, you understand, I was paid." "Of course, nothing could be more fair." "I was careful to bring this demon of a man with me, for you can understand that I did not care to leave him behind." "I should think so." "We went on very quietly till a day or two back, when, in beating up the country, I captured a girl, who, only escorted by three men, who fled like cowards at the first shot, was trying to join the Texan army." "Poor Carmela!" the Jaguar murmured. "Do not pity her, but rejoice, on the contrary, that she fell into my hands; who knows what might have happened with anyone else?" "That is true, go on." "I was willing enough to let the poor girl continue her journey, but the Scalper opposed it. It seemed that he knew her, for on seeing her he exclaimed--'Oh, oh! This time she shall not escape me;' is that clear, eh?" The two men bowed their assent. "However, the prisoner was mine, as I had captured her." "Ah!" said the Jaguar, with a sigh of relief. "Yes, and I would not consent to surrender her to the Scalper at any price." "Good, very good! You are a worthy man." The pirate smiled modestly. "Yes," he said, "I am all right, but my comrade, seeing that I would not give up the girl to him, offered me a bargain." "What was its nature?" "To give me twenty-five gold onzas, on condition that I never restored my prisoner to liberty." "And did you accept?" the Jaguar asked, eagerly. "Hang it! Business is business, and twenty ounces are a tidy sum." "Villain!" the young man exclaimed, as he rose furiously. John Davis restrained him, and made him sit down again. "Patience," he said. "Hum!" Sandoval muttered, "You are deucedly quick; I allow that I promised not to set her at liberty, but not to prevent her flight; did I not tell you that I was a man of ideas?" "That is true." "The girl interested me, she wept. It is very foolish, but I do not like to see women cry since the day when----but that is not the point,"--he caught himself up--"she told me her name and story; I was affected in spite of myself, and the more so, as I saw a prospect of taking my revenge." "Then you propose to me to carry her off?" "That's the very thing." "How much do you want for that?" "Nothing," the Pirate answered with a magnificent gesture of disinterestedness. "How, nothing?" "Dear me, no." "That is impossible."