"You seem to forget, señor," Doña Marianna said, joining in the conversation for the first time, "that one of these two persons is a female."
"Of course she must command," the trapper answered with a courteous bow; "pray excuse me, madam."
"I the more willingly do so, because I hope to obtain from you important information about the object of the journey we have undertaken, perhaps somewhat too carelessly, in these desolate regions."
"I shall be too happy to be agreeable to you, my lady, if it be in my power."
"Permit me, in that case, to ask you a few questions."
"Pray do so."
"I wish to know what the camp is whose watch fires I perceive a short distance off."
"A hunter's bivouac."
"Only hunters?"
"Yes, they are all white hunters or trappers."