"And afterwards?"
"The rest is our business."
"But you do not intend to remain alone in the midst of the Pagans?"
"We must, Don Pedro."
"Mercedes," the latter continued, "do you wish to fall again into the hands of your persecutors?
"Reassure yourself, brother; I run no risk."
"Still—"
"I answer for her," Doña Concha interrupted him.
"Well, Heaven be merciful to you!" he muttered, with an air of doubt.
"Let us start," said Don Sylvio's affianced wife, as she wrapped herself up in a spacious cloak. Pedrito walked before them. The dying fires of Carmen lit up the night with a pale and uncertain gleam; a leaden silence brooded over the town, only interrupted at intervals by the hoarse croaking of the birds of prey that were tearing the Spanish and Indian corpses. The three persons walked through the ruins, stumbling against tottering walls, striding over bodies, and disturbing the horrible festival of the urubús and vultures which fled away with heavy wings. They went through nearly the entire length of the town, and at length arrived, after a thousand windings and difficulties, at one of the barriers that faced the Indian camp, whose numerous fires could be seen sparkling a short distance off, and from which fearful yells reached their ears.