This canoe at once appeared suspicious to the cautious Indian. It did not seem natural to him that, at such an advanced hour of the night, any boat should be thus tied up in the river: but the Black Bear was a man of prompt decision, whom nothing embarrassed, and who rapidly formed his plans. After carefully examining this, mysterious canoe, still stationary before him, he stooped over to the Little Panther, who hung on to the same tree in readiness to execute his orders, and, placing his knife between his teeth, the chief unloosed his hold and dived.
He rose again near the canoe, seized it boldly, pulled it over, and leaped in right on Cucharés' chest and seized him by the throat. This movement was executed so rapidly that the lepero could not employ his weapons, and found himself completely at the mercy of his enemy before he understood what had occurred.
"Wah!" the Indian exclaimed with surprise on recognising him. "What is my brother doing here?"
The lepero had also recognised the chief, and, without knowing why, this restored him a slight degree of courage.
"Wah! My brother was afraid of the fire, and for that reason took to the river."
"Quite right, chief; you have hit it the first time. I _was_ afraid of the fire."
"Good!" the Apache continued, with a mocking smile peculiar to himself. "My brother is not alone. Where is the Great Buffalo?"
"Eh? I do not know the Great Buffalo, chief. I don't even know whom you are talking about."
"All the palefaces have a forked tongue. Why does not my brother speak the truth?"
"I am quite willing to do so, but I do not understand you."
"The Black Bear is a great Apache warrior; he can speak the language of his nation, but he knows badly that of the Yoris."
"I did not mean that. You express yourself excellently in Castilian, but you are speaking of a person I do not know."
"Wah! Is that possible?" the Indian said, with feigned amazement. "Does not my brother know the warrior with whom he was two days ago?"
"O! Now I understand; you are talking of Don Martial. Yes, certainly I know him."
"Good!" the chief replied; "I knew that I was not mistaken. Why is my brother not with him at this moment?"
"Probably because I am here," the lepero said with a grin.