"Remember," the young man said with a groan, "remember, Ellen, that this interview will be the last."
"Yes, but I do not wish it," a rough voice suddenly said.
They turned in terror, and perceived Red Cedar looking at them with a grin, as he leant on his rifle. Ellen gave her father such a flashing glance, that the old squatter involuntarily looked down without replying. She turned to Don Pablo, and took his hand. "Come," she said to him. She walked resolutely toward her father, who did not stir. "Make way," she said boldly.
"Pay attention to me, father," she continued; "I have sacrificed for you my life, my happiness, all my hopes on this earth, but on one condition that his life shall be sacred. Let him go, then; I insist on it."
Ellen burst into a wild laugh, whose shrill notes made the two men shudder. With a movement swift as thought, she tore a pistol from the squatter's belt, cocked it, and put the muzzle to her forehead. "Make way!" she repeated.
Red Cedar uttered a yell of terror. "Stop!" he shouted, as he rushed toward her.
"For the last time, make way, or I kill myself!"
"Oh!" he said with an expression of rage impossible to endure, "Go, demon, but I shall find you again."
"Farewell, my beloved!" Ellen cried passionately; "farewell for the last time!"
"Ellen," the young man answered, "we shall meet again; I will save you in spite of yourself."
And rushing down the passage, he disappeared.
"And now, father," the maiden said, throwing the pistol far from her, when the sound of her lover's footsteps died away in the distance, "do with me what you please."
"I pardon you, child," Red Cedar replied gnashing his teeth, "but I will kill him."
Don Pablo ran out of the cavern and joined Andrés Garote hastily, who still slept. The young man had some difficulty in waking him, but at length he opened his eyes, sat up, and yawned; but perceiving the stars still shining, he said ill-humouredly: "What fly has stung you? Let me sleep--day is still far off."
"I know that better than you, for I have not lain down."
"Then, you were wrong," the other said, yawning fit to dislocate his jaw; "I am going to sleep, so good night."
And he tried to lie down again, but the young man prevented him. "A pretty time for sleeping," he said as he dragged away the other's zarapé; in which he tried in vain to wrap himself.