The witnesses of this horrible scene exchanged terrified looks, not daring in any other way to express the sentiments which agitated them.
Suddenly Arnal advanced rapidly towards Zeno Cabral.
"Stop, caballero," said he in a firm voice; "stop, take care that you are not criminal yourself, while thinking you are but a judge; vengeance belongs only to God; that man did not kill your sister."
"I have proofs of his crime."
"You cannot have the proofs of that which does not exist," pursued Arnal, with energy.
"What do you mean?"
"Your sister is not dead."
This unexpected piece of news, of such powerful interest, completely changed the aspect of the scene, and everyone crowded round him.
"She is alive," cried Tarou Niom.
Arnal let go the hand of the partisan, which, until that time he had held in his own, and looking at him with an expression of, pain and of infinite tenderness: