Stoneheart fixed on the vaquero a gaze which seemed to search his inmost soul; the latter bore it manfully.
"It is well," he said, "I see you have not lied. How long is it since you left the Tigercat?"
"Only four days, señor. As I do not know this part of the wilderness, I was wandering about at a venture, when I had the good fortune to fall in with you."
"Indeed! Now, what is the name of the place to which the Tigercat intended to lead you?"
"El Voladero de las Ánimas," answered the vaquero, without hesitation.
Stoneheart instantly grew pale as death at this information; and yet he had almost expected it, from the cruel and implacable character of his former teacher.
"Alas!" cried he; "The unfortunate girl is lost! This wretch has carried her into a very nest of serpents!"
The bystanders were dreadfully agitated.
"What is this horrible place?" said Don Pedro.
"Alas! El Voladero de las Ánimas is an accursed region, into which the hardiest bee-hunters and boldest cascarilleros scarcely dare to enter. The Voladero is a lofty mountain, which frowns over an immense expanse of swamps swarming with cobras, coral snakes, and others, whose slightest bite kills the strongest man in ten minutes. For ten leagues around this dread mountain, the country is alive with reptiles and venomous insects, against which how shall man defend himself!"