Moukapec had not made a move; his sleep must have been very sound. Two hours later, Valentine and his friends returned from their trip to the island, and Don Miguel at once noticed the absence of the squatter's daughter.
"Where is Ellen?" he asked, quickly.
"Gone!" Don Pablo muttered.
"And you allowed her to fly?" the hacendero exclaimed.
"She was not a prisoner, hence I had no right to oppose her departure."
"And the Canadian hunter?"
"Gone too."
"Oh!" Don Miguel exclaimed, "We must start in pursuit of them without the loss of a moment."
A shudder of terror and joy ran over the young man's body, as he turned pale at this proposition. Valentine gave him a searching glance, and then laid his hand on his friend's shoulder.
"We will do nothing of the sort," he said, with a meaning smile; "on the contrary, we will allow Red Cedar's daughter to withdraw unimpeded."