Then he redoubled his efforts to seem apathetic, smiled on Brighteye, and gaily addressed him.
For the first time in his life, the old hunter felt himself nonplussed: though he ransacked his memory to try and find an analogous circumstance to this in the course of his varied life, to his great regret he was forced to confess to himself that he had never witnessed anything like it. This annoyed him, and he therefore walked with a dissatisfied air by the young man's side.
Still they advanced. Suddenly, however, they heard the sound of horses near them on the trail they were following.
"Here is Marksman," Don Miguel said.
"That is probable."
"He will be greatly astonished to meet me coming toward the help he is bringing."
"That is certain."
"Let us hurry our horses on a little."
Brighteye looked at him. "You have sworn, then, to bring on a congestion of the brain?" he said to him plainly.
"How so?" the young man asked in surprise.