"Enough of this, caray!" the general shouted.
The soldiers reloaded their muskets, and the order to fire was given once more. A discharge burst forth like thunder, and the count fell with his face to the earth.
He was dead: progress counted one martyr more!
"Farewell, father," a voice cried in the general's ear. "I keep my promise."
Don Sebastian turned in terror, for he had recognised his daughter's voice.
Doña Angela had fallen to the ground. Her father rushed toward her. It was too late; he only pressed a corpse in his arms. His punishment had already commenced.
The count had scarce fallen ere Valentine rushed toward him, followed by the missionary.
"Let no one approach the body!" he said in a voice which made the bravest recoil, and kneeling on his right, while the missionary placed himself on the left, he prayed.
Curumilla had disappeared.
Those who tell us that the Count de Prébois Crancé was an adventurer, I will merely ask what Hernando Cortez was on the day before the fall of Mexico?