This movement restored the borderers all their rage and fury.
"Down with him, down with him!" they shouted, as they rushed on the officer.
"Halt!" the Jaguar said as he bounded forward, and overthrew all in his way; "Not one of you must stir; this man belongs to me."
On hearing this well-known voice, all the men stopped.
The Captain threw away his crowbar, for the last chest had fallen in its turn over the precipice.
"Surrender, Captain Melendez," the Jaguar said, as he advanced toward the officer.
The latter had taken up his sabre again.
"It is not worth while now," he replied, "I prefer to die."
"Defend yourself then."
The two men crossed swords, and for some minutes a furious clashing of steel could be heard. All at once, the Captain, by a sharp movement, made his adversary's weapon fly ten paces off, and ere the latter recovered from his surprise, the officer rushed on him and writhed round him like a serpent.