"I am not so used to speaking as to find pleasure in making long harangues," the Scalper replied; "I will only say things strictly indispensable to be properly understood by you."
"Do so then without further preamble."
"Be it so. I now return to the second question you asked me: What reason brought me here? I will tell you presently, but first answer your third question—How I got here?"
"In truth," the Jaguar exclaimed, "that seems to me extraordinary."
"Not so extraordinary as you suppose; I might tell you that I am too old a hand on the prairies not to foil the most vigilant sentries; but I prefer confessing the truth, as it will be more profitable to you. You have this night confided the guard of the camp to Apache dogs, who, instead of watching, as they pledged themselves to do, are asleep on their posts, so thoroughly that the first comer can enter your lines as he thinks proper; and this is so true, that scarce two hours back a party of eight went through the whole length of your camp, and entered the hacienda, without encountering opposition from anyone."
"Viva Dios!" the Jaguar exclaimed, turning livid with passion; "Can it possibly be so?"
"I am the proof of it, I fancy," the old man answered simply.
The young Chief seized his pistols, and made a hurried movement to rush out, but the stranger restrained him.
"What good will it do," he said, "to pick a quarrel with your allies? It is an accomplished fact, so it is better to undergo the consequences. Still, let it serve you as a lesson to take better precautions another time."
"But these men who crossed the camp?" the Jaguar said sharply.