"Nothing is truer; my friends are going to assemble there."
"If that be the case, it is useless to lose any further valuable time; let us be off at once."
"Of course; I am most anxious to do so."
"By the way," said the Sumach, "I will go on ahead, so as to warn my comrades, in that way you will not be obliged to make a circuit to reach our camp, and when you arrive opposite the Giant's Peak, you will find us on the road ready to follow you. Does that suit you?"
"¡Canarios! I should think so; you are a precious man, you think of everything, so be off at once."
The Canadian dug his spurs into his horse's flanks and started at full speed. The travellers followed him at once; their pace, though rapid, was however much more moderate than that of the adventurer, who appeared to devour space. Moonshine remained with the Mexicans, and galloped by the side of Don Aurelio.
"Why did you not tell me about your cuadrilla?" the latter asked him.
"Pardon me, señor," the Canadian said, "but your memory fails you at this moment; I was about to speak of it when my friend, the Sumach, forced me to be silent."
"That is true; I remember."
"Now," he continued, "I will take the liberty of remarking, that in speaking of my comrade's party you used the words your cuadrilla."