"It strikes me that, if I am obliged to return here, we shall lose precious time in coming and going: which time Red Cedar, whose suspicions will be aroused, may profit by to decamp."
"Oh, it is very simple. When the moment arrives to spread our nets, I will light a fire on the mountain; which will serve as a signal to you to start at once; still, there would be no harm if someone accompanied me, and remained hidden near the spot where I am going."
"It shall be done as you wish," White Gazelle answered: "two persons will accompany you in lieu of one."
"Don Pablo de Zarate and myself intend to go with you," she continued, giving the young man a glance he understood.
"Then all is for the best," the gambusino said, "and we will start when you like."
"At once, at once," the two young people exclaimed.
"Our horses are not tired, and can easily cover that distance," Don Pablo remarked.
"Make haste, then, for moments are precious," said Bloodson, who burned to be alone.
"I only crave a few moments to saddle my horse."
The gambusino went out. The three persons remained in silence, all equally perplexed about the casket, on which Bloodson had laid his hand as if afraid of having it torn from him again. Very shortly, a horse was heard galloping outside, and Garote put his head in at the door. "I am ready," he said.
White Gazelle and Don Pablo rose. "Let us go!" they shouted as they ran to the door.
"I wish you luck!" Bloodson said to them.
"Excellency, do not forget the coffer," the gambusino said with a grin; "you will find the contents most interesting to you."
So soon as the ranger was alone, he rose, carefully fastened the door, not to be disturbed in the examination he was about to make, and then sat down again, after selecting from a small deerskin pouch some hooks of different size. He then took the coffer, and carefully examined it all over. There was nothing remarkable about it: it was, as we have said elsewhere, a light casket of carved steel, made with the most exquisite taste--a pretty toy, in a word.
In spite of his desire to know its contents, the ranger hesitated to open it; this pretty little toy caused him an emotion for which he could not account: he fancied he had seen it before, but he racked his brains in vain to try and remember where. "Oh!" he said, speaking to himself in a low hoarse voice; "Can I be approaching the consummation of the object to which I have devoted my life?"