"Oh, I would give ten years of my life," the Canadian exclaimed, "to have some news of him."
"Caray, gossip," a merry voice replied; "I have brought you some all fresh, and shall charge you nothing for them."
The hearers started involuntarily at the sound of this voice, and turned quickly to the side where they heard it.
The branches parted, and a man appeared.
It was Lanzi.
The half-breed seemed as calm and composed as if nothing extraordinary had happened to him; but his face, usually so cold, now had an indescribable expression of cunning joy, his eyes sparkled, and a mocking smile played about his lips.
"By Jove! Our friend," Tranquil said as he offered him a hand; "you are a thousand times welcome, for our anxiety about you was great."
"Thank you, gossip; but, luckily for me, the danger was not so imminent as might be supposed, and I very easily succeeded in getting rid of those demons of Apaches."
"All the better; no matter how you contrived to escape, here you are safe and sound, so all is for the best; now that we have met again, they may come if their heart tells them to do so, and they will find somebody to talk to them."
"They will not do it; besides, they have something else on hand at this moment."