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"Well," continued Diaz, "I will think no more about this immense treasure. I have always preferred the life of an Indian, killed by my own hands, to a sack of gold dust." This common feeling of hatred towards the Indians still further added to the sympathy which Bois-Rose had felt for the disinterestedness and courage shown by Diaz.
"We must be close to the spot," said he, "for it should be at the foot of the tomb of the Indian chief and these ornaments indicate that the rock is the tomb. We have no time to lose. You and Bois-Rose walk around the rock, while I go and examine those cotton-trees and willows."
I do not know who committed the crime, and have nothing further to say." As he finished speaking, Bois-Rose again covered his head, and seated himself in silence. A mournful silence followed this declaration. Fabian lowered his flashing eyes for an instant to the ground, then raised them, calm and cold, to the face of the ex-carabinier, whose turn had now come to speak.
"I see what they are going to do," said Bois-Rose, "they are going to try if the poor wretch's legs are better than his arms. They are about to chase him." "How so?" said Fabian. "They will place their captive a little in advance, then at a given signal he will run. Then all the Indians will run after him, lance and hatchet in hand.
Then there were rows of double crosses; and also one of triple crosses; and finally a series of stars. All these hieroglyphics appeared to have been cut with the blade of a knife; but their purpose was a puzzle to Tiburcio. Bois-Rose, noticing an interrogative expression upon the face of the young man, at once entered upon an explanation.
Bois-Rose and Fabian were hidden behind the trees; and thinking that Pepe was alone, Cuchillo had fired at him, without taking time for a proper aim, and thus Pepe had escaped the ball that whistled past him.
Before entering the valley Bois-Rose and Fabian raised their eyes to the top of the hill, whence the shot as well as the voice had proceeded. But the remains of the fog at that moment covered the top of the rock, and all three rushed simultaneously towards the isolated mass where they believed their enemy to be hidden.
"I hear only the sound of the river, and the wind which says to me, `the whites imagine a thousand errors; they believe that the Indian has eyes behind his back, that the track of the bison is invisible, and that reeds are ball proof. The Blackbird laughs at the words of the wind." "Ah!" said Bois-Rose, "if we had entered but two miles higher up the river!"
The strange interest which the trapper had exhibited and the questions he had asked were attributed by him to mere benevolence. He had no idea that the latter referred to any one whom he had formerly known, and who was now lost to him; for Bois-Rose had as yet told him nothing of his own history.
"Yes, but let us risk his fire without stirring; lie all of us as if we were dead. Then he will go and tell his companions that he has counted the corpses of the palefaces." In spite of the danger incurred by this stratagem, the proposition of Bois-Rose was accepted, and each remained motionless, watching, not without anxiety, the manoeuvres of the Indian.
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