"Yes."
"Oh," he burst out, "I must at all hazards carry that accursed hacienda."
"That is exactly what I came to propose to you," the Scalper said quietly.
The young man advanced a step.
"What do you say?" he asked.
"I say," the old man replied in the same tone, "that I have come to propose to you the capture of the hacienda."
"You! It is impossible."
"Why so?"
"Because," the Jaguar went on with agitation, "the hacienda is well fortified: it is defended by a numerous and brave garrison, commanded by one of the best officers of the Mexican army, and for the seventeen days I have been investing these accursed walls, I have been unable, despite all my efforts, to take one forward step."
"All that is correct."