"Thank you my friend; but you—are you not going to sleep also?"
"No, I must watch moreover, I intend to profit by the darkness to try a reconnaissance about the camp."
"Would you me to accompany you, my friend?" briskly asked the young chief.
"It would be useless; sleep. I shall be equal to the task I have set myself."
"Do as you like, then, my friend; I do not say any more."
Gueyma then carefully wrapped himself in his poncho, stretched himself comfortably before the fire, closed his eyes, and some minutes afterwards he was sunk in profound sleep.
The Cougar had not changed his position; crouched before the fire, his head reclining on his breast, he was reflecting.
The Indian thus remained for a considerable time—so motionless, that, from a distance, he rather resembled one of those idols of the East Indies, than a man of flesh and blood.
At last, after about an hour, probably passed in serious meditation, he gently raised his head, and looked anxiously around him.
A death-like silence pervaded the camp; the warriors were all sleeping, with the exception of a few sentinels, placed behind the entrenchments, to watch over the general safety. The Cougar rose, tightened his girdle, seized his carbine, and proceeded slowly towards the spot where the horses were feeding.