Running Water drew himself up, gave the spectators a glance of strange meaning; then, without uttering a word, he took off his hat, which he threw over the precipice, broke his cane across his knee, let the pieces fall at his feet, and said to Don Aníbal—
"You wish for war, be it so! I accept. You can now pass, and no one will oppose you."
He fell back a step, shouted in a thundering voice, "We shall meet again," and then disappeared.
[CHAPTER III.]
THE RED BUFFALOES.
The startled Mexicans looked at each other with dumb terror; for several minutes after the disappearance of the cacique they remained thus gloomy and hesitating, fearing a trap, and not daring to put faith in the words of an Indian.
At length the hacendero, ashamed of showing the terror he felt, haughtily raised his head, and angrily stamped his foot.
"¡Viva Dios!" he shouted, "Are we timid women to let ourselves be frightened by the threats of a maniac? I will go on, even if I should be murdered."