"Nonsense!" he said; "I am not a paleface, the tears of women have no effect upon me."
And he advanced again towards her. The Linda, still apparently buried in her reflections, seemed not to be aware of what was going on.
"Señora, señora!" the maiden cried; "in the name of all that is sacred defend me, I implore you!"
The Linda raised her head, looked at her coldly, and, with a dry nervous laugh, said—
"Have I not told you what you had to expect?"
Then she thrust her roughly from her.
"Oh!" cried Doña Rosario, in a piercing voice, "maldición on you, heartless woman!"
Again the chief approached, and again his victim darted to the other side of the apartment, but unfortunately as she passed he caught her dress in his iron grasp. And now the noble energy that never deserts virtue in distress returned to her. She drew herself up proudly, and fixed her eyes steadfastly on her pursuer. "Stand back!" she cried, brandishing her dagger. "Stand back! or I will kill myself!"
In spite of himself the demon stood motionless. He was convinced that it was not a vain threat the girl uttered. At that moment the hideous, scarred, grinning face of the Linda was bent towards his ear.
"Appear to yield," she whispered; "I will tame her, leave her to me!"