The amantzin grinned, and pocketed the bribe.
Don Torribio rushed to the toldo, and raised the curtain. A cry of joy and astonishment escaped him when he recognised Doña Hermosa.
The latter smiled; while he bowed gracefully, asking himself the while what the meaning of this could be.
Doña Hermosa could not resist admiring the man. His rich uniform became him; it exhibited all his handsome proportions, and increased his attractions.
"What rank shall I give you?" she said, beckoning to him to sit down by her side.
"Give me any name you like best, señorita. If you speak to the Spaniard, call me Don Torribio; if you address yourself to the Indian, the name by which I am known among the Apaches is 'the Accursed.'"
"Why have they given you this dreadful name?" said she.
There was no answer to her question: and the two gazed at each other in silence.
Doña Hermosa was thinking of the manner in which she should tell him the object of her visit; he was pondering over the reasons which could have brought her there. He was the first to speak.
"Have you really come here inquest of me señorita?"