"Estevan," replied the girl firmly, "whatever be the danger, I will brave it: nothing can change my resolve. Farewell! I shall soon see you again."
"Farewell!" repeated the mayor domo.
Doña Hermosa turned away in the direction of the Indian camp. Ña Manuela hesitated a moment, and then threw herself into the arms of her son.
"Alas!" cried he, excited by the emotions terrible to witness in such a man; "Stay with me, mother, I implore you!"
"What!" said the noble woman, pointing to Doña Hermosa, "Shall I leave her to sacrifice herself alone?"
Don Estevan was unable to reply.
Manuela embraced him once more, then tore herself with a violent effort from the arms of her son, who vainly strove to restrain her, and hurried to join Hermosa.
The mayor domo followed them with his eyes as long as he could distinguish them in the obscurity; than, uttering a heart-felt sigh, he retraced his steps, muttering as he went:
"If I can only get there in time—if it has only not yet reached Don José de Kalbris!"
Just as Don Estevan arrived at the fort, the governor was leaving it, in company with Don Torribio Quiroga. But the Mexican, absorbed in the ideas which were harassing his brain, did not notice them, although they passed so close to him that he might have touched them.