"You?" the hunter exclaimed, under the influence of the uttermost surprise; "why that is impossible!"
"Of course so, since I am dead," the stranger answered, bitterly.
[CHAPTER II.]
THE DEAD ALIVE.
The Tigrero had let his head fall on his chest again, and seemed engaged with gloomy thoughts. The hunter, somewhat embarrassed by the turn the conversation had taken, and anxious to continue it, mechanically stirred up the fire with the blade of his navaja, while his eyes wandered around, and were at times fixed on his companion with an expression of deep sympathy.
"Stay," he said, presently, as he thrust back with his foot a few embers that had rolled out; "pardon me, sir, any insult which my exclamation may seem to have contained. You have mistaken, I assure you, the meaning of my remarks; although, as we have never met, we are not such strangers as you suppose. I have known you for a long time."
The Tigrero raised his head, and looked at the hunter incredulously.
"You?" he muttered.
"Yes, I, caballero, and it will not be difficult to prove it to you."