"Caballero," said Don Pancho, with a half smile, "the sun is very hot here; are you willing to follow us to the camp? You have nothing to fear."
"Señor," the young man replied, haughtily, "I fear nothing—my actions might satisfy you of that. I will follow."
"If you are afraid, señor," said the general, "you can return."
"General," retorted the young man, haughtily. "I have your word of honour, besides which there is one thing you are ignorant of."
"What is that, señor?"
"That I am a Frenchman, general."
"Your hand, señor," he said; "you are a brave young man, and it will not be my fault, I swear to you, if you do not go back satisfied."
The five personages now proceeded silently for several minutes through the camp, till they came to a tent much larger than the rest, where a number of long lances tied together, with scarlet pennons at their points, stuck in the ground, denoted that it was the hut of a chief. Buffalo skulls, lying here and there, served as seats. In one corner, upon a heap of dry leaves, reclined a woman, with her head enveloped in bandages. This was the Linda. She appeared to be sleeping. On the entrance of the party, however, a flash of her wild-looking eye gleamed through the darkness of the hut.
Everyone seated himself, as well as he could, upon a skull. When all were placed, the general said, in a short, clear manner—
"Now, then, señor, let us know upon what conditions you will agree to surrender?"