"It is so, however, though I will propose two conditions." "Ah! Ah! There we have it." The pirate smiled in reply. "Let us hear them," the young man continued. "In order not to compromise myself unnecessarily, you will carry off the girl during the first battle, when I come over to your side. Do not be frightened, it will not be long first, if I may believe certain forebodings." "Good, that is granted. Now for the second." "The second is, that you swear to free me from the White Scalper, and kill him, no matter in what way." "Done again--I swear it. But now permit me one question." "Out with it." "How is it that as you hate this man so deeply, you have not killed him yourself, as there could have been no lack of opportunity?" "Certainly not, I could have done it a hundred times." "Well, why did you not do it?" "Are you desirous of knowing?" "Yes." "Well, it was because the man has been my guest and slept under my roof by my side, eaten and drank at my table; but what it is not permitted me to do, others can do in my place. But now good bye, Señores, when will you give me a definite answer?" "This very evening; I shall have seen the General in a few hours." "This evening, then." And bowing politely to the two men, he quietly left the jacal, mounted his horse, and set out at a gallop, leaving the two men terrified at his imperturbable effrontery and profound perversity. [1] About £10,000. CHAPTER XXII. LOYAL HEART'S HISTORY. After the scene of torture we described a few chapters back, Loyal Heart returned to his rancho with his friends, Tranquil, Lanzi, and the faithful Quoniam. Fray Antonio had left the village the same morning to convey to the Jaguar the news of the good reception given his companions by the Comanches. The Whites sat down sorrowfully on equipals, and remained silent for some minutes. The horrible tortures inflicted on Running-elk had affected them more than they liked to say. In fact, it was a frightful and repulsive spectacle for men accustomed to fight their enemies bravely, and, when the battle was over, help the wounded without distinction of victors or vanquished. "Hum!" Quoniam muttered, "the Red race is a brutal race." "All races are the same," Tranquil answered "when abandoned without restraint to the violence of their passions." "The Whites are men more cruel than the Redskins," Loyal Heart observed, "because they act with discernment." "That is true," John Davis struck in, "but that does not prevent the scene we have just witnessed being a horrible one." "Yes," said Tranquil, "horrible is the word." "Come," Loyal Heart remarked, for the purpose of changing the conversation, "did you not tell me, my friend, that you were entrusted with a message for me? I fancy the moment has arrived for an explanation." "In truth, I have delayed too long in delivering it; besides, if my presentiments do not greatly deceive me, my return must be anxiously expected."