The Canadian's manner was reserved, and his face was covered by a cloud of sorrow.
"You are welcome to my camp, hunter," the Jaguar said kindly, as he offered his hand.
"Thank you," the Canadian answered laconically, not touching the proffered hand.
"I am glad to see you," the young man went on, without any display of annoyance; "what accident has brought you in this direction?"
"My comrade and I have been hunting for a long time; fatigue is crushing us, and the smoke of your camp attracted us."
The Jaguar pretended to accept as gospel this clumsy evasion of a man who justly prided himself as being the healthiest and strongest wood-ranger of the desert.
"Come, then, and take a seat at my camp fire, and be good enough to regard everything here as belonging to you, and act in accordance with it."
The Canadian bowed, but made no answer, and with Loyal Heart followed the hunter who preceded them, and guided them through the mazes of the camp.
On reaching the fire, upon which the young man threw a few handfuls of dry wood, the hunters sat down on buffalo skulls placed there as seats, and then, without breaking the silence, filled their pipes and began smoking.
The Jaguar imitated them.