"Yes," the young lady continued, "in my father's name I order you not to leave this island, chief—in my father's name, who, were he here, would order you as I do."
"I answer for that," Don Pablo said; "my father has too noble a heart to assent to an act of cowardice."
The maiden turned to the Indian chief, who had been stoically witnessing the scene.
"Begone, redskins," she went on with a majestic accent, impossible to render, "you see that all your victims escape you."
"Honour bids me go," the warrior murmured feebly.
Doña Clara took his hand between hers, and looked at him softly.
"Moukapec!" she said to him, in her melodious and pure voice, "do you not know that yours would be a useless sacrifice? The Apaches are only striving to deprive us of our most devoted defender, that they may make an easier conquest of us. They are very treacherous Indians; remain with us."
Eagle-wing hesitated for a moment, and the two chiefs tried in vain to read on his face the feelings that affected him. During several seconds, a leaden silence weighed on this group of men, whose hearts could be heard beating. At length the Coras raised his head, and answered with an effort—
"You insist; I remain here."
Then he turned to the chief, who was waiting anxiously.