‘Gracious Heavens!’ exclaimed Inez. ‘Why Joaquin, though the holy saints know how thankful I am that your skilful arm saved the life of my dear preserver, still I cannot conceive why you can take such pleasure in looking upon such an awful sight as the face of that wretched man,’ and Inez turned her face aside sickened to the very heart.
‘My gracious young donna,’ replied the robber, ‘too seldom have I prayed to the holy saints, and to the still holier ones. But of late I have thrown myself before every crucifix I saw and with tears begged that the ravishers of Carmencitto should fall by this hand, and this hand only. And the holy saints have heard my prayers.’ As he spoke, he drew a long sharp blade from its sheath, and plunged it to the hilt in the still warm breast of his prostrate foe. ‘And now, fair lady,’ he exclaimed, ‘once again I am at your service.’
‘Let us ride like the wind, Joaquin,’ said Inez impatiently.
Joaquin was in his saddle, and his horse at full speed in an instant.
But the few moments that had elapsed had sufficed for Blodget and his troop to be almost out of sight.
‘They will surely escape us,’ cried the maiden.
‘No donna,’ said Sanchez respectfully. ‘They have turned down to the beach, and before they ride a quarter of a mile they will reach a rock that runs out into the sea, round which they cannot pass but at low tide, and even then with great risk.’
While Sanchez was speaking, Blodget and his comrades had reached the point alluded to.
‘By G—d,’ cried Blodget, ‘here we are, brought up, all standing,’ as he reined his horse, and gazed angrily upon the white breakers that dashed against the base of the high and jagged rock.
‘This that you fear will ruin us, will prove our safety,’ said Maretzo. ‘I know this spot well. Though close at the foot of the cliff the water is deep, a little way farther out, it is comparatively shoal, and the blue water will hardly reach our horses’ girths, though the foam and spray of the breakers may dash over our heads. Follow me closely, deviate not a single inch right or left, and my life for it, I’ll bring you safely through.’