In a few words Blue-fox explained to them what was occurring. To tell the truth, we must confess that this confidence, far from exciting the warriors and hunters, singularly lowered their ardour, by revealing to them that they were about to expose themselves to a terrible danger, by contending with a man who was the more dangerous because no weapon could strike him; and those who had hitherto dared to assail him, had ever fallen victims to their temerity.
Still, it was too late to recoil, and flight was impossible; the warriors, therefore, determined to push on, though much against the grain.
As for the two hunters, if they did not completely share in the blind credulity of their comrades, and their superstitious fears, this fight was far from pleasing them. Still, restrained by the shame of abandoning men to whom they fancied themselves superior in intelligence, and even in courage, they resolved to follow them.
"Excellency!" the monk exclaimed in a lamentable voice, when he saw the Indians appear, "Do not abandon me."
"No, if you do not abandon yourself, scoundrel!" the Scalper answered.
On reaching the skirt of the clearing, the Apaches, following their usual tactics, sheltered themselves behind trees, so that this confined clearing, in which so many men were on the point of beginning an obstinate struggle, seemed absolutely deserted.
There was a moment of silence and hesitation. The Scalper at length decided on being the first to speak.
"Halloh!" he cried, "What do you want here?"
Blue-fox was going to answer, but John Davis prevented him.
"Leave him to me," he said.