"Heavens, heavens!" she exclaimed in despair, and stretching out her hands to the sky. Then she fell back in a fainting fit. Doña Luz and Don Rafaël hastened to her aid, and carried her into the hacienda, where they eagerly tried to restore her to consciousness. Belhumeur tossed his head several times, and prepared to shut the gate of the hacienda.
"Not yet," a voice said to him; "let us go out first."
"Eh, what?" he said. "Where the deuce do you want to go at this hour, Black Elk?
"To tell you the truth," the hunter answered, "I am almost a Frenchman, since I am a Canadian, and so I am going to help my countrymen."
"Halloh!" Belhumeur exclaimed, struck by these words, "that's not a bad idea. By Jove! you shall not go alone; I will accompany you."
"All the better; then there will be three of us."
"How three? Who else is coming with us?"
"Eagle-head, by Jove! The chief says there are down there some Indians, enemies of his nation, whom he should like to have a set-to with."
"Let us be off, then. I believe that the count will be pleased to have three fighting men more, like us, in his company."
"By Jove! I should think so," Belhumeur said.