"He constantly refused to tell us his name, in spite of the pressing entreaties of my father."
"He had good reasons for doing so, niña; the name would have filled you with horror."
"Then who and what is this man?"
"He is the son of the Tigercat; he is called Stoneheart."
Hermosa recoiled with instinctive terror, and hid her face in her hands.
"It is impossible," she cried: "this man cannot be a monster; this man who proved himself so faithful, so loyal—who saved my life, too."
"What!" exclaimed Don Estevan: "He saved your life?"
"Have you not heard it? Has not my father told you the story?"
"No; Don Pedro did not say anything about it."
"Then I will tell you, Estevan; for whatever this man may be, I must render him justice. I owe it to him, to him alone, that I did not die in horrible agony."