This circumstance had not escaped Sacatripas, who, while pushing his brother to extremity, and threatening him on all sides at once, never laid himself open to a blow, and kept himself always on his guard.
"¡Rayo de Dios!" cried Mataseis, suddenly, making a sudden backward step, "I believe I am caught!"
"I think so too," answered Sacatripas, looking coolly at the point of his knife; "here is blood!"
At that moment a sound of footsteps was heard, and a man appeared in the thicket.
"Ha! Ha!" said he, rubbing his hands joyously; "There is fighting here; do not disturb yourselves, companions; I will be your witness; I should be much annoyed to disturb you in the least."
At the sound of this voice the two men stood back, trembling.
"You come too late, Don Pablo!" said Mataseis, with a gracious smile; "We have done."
"Already!" answered Don Pablo Pincheyra—for it was he who had so suddenly arrived; "That is a pity."
"We were amusing ourselves till you came, señor, merely to keep our hand in," said Sacatripas.
"Hum!" said the partisan; "The amusement is pretty, and quite to my taste. You were doing well, I think. Señor Mataseis has a gash on his cheek, which has a fine effect."