The Spaniard suppressed a gesture of rage.
"Well," answered he, after a pause; "you wish it; let it be so, but you will repent of it. Retreat!"
And he left.
"You are free," said the young man, holding out his hand to Don Zeno, to aid him in rising.
The latter darted a fierce look at him.
"I am obliged to accept your offer," said he, "but all is not finished between us. We shall see one another again."
"I hope so," simply answered the young man; and, remounting his horse, he rejoined his companions, already a good way off.
Two hours later, the Spaniards penetrated the first defiles of the Cordilleras, while the patriots returned leisurely and sufficiently discontented at the result of their expedition to San Miguel de Tucuman, where they arrived at nightfall of the same day.