The horizon was gradually growing clearer, and friend and foe could perfectly distinguish each other. There was something painful in this spectacle of twenty-nine calm and stoical men, who had all made a sacrifice of their life, and were preparing with heroic carelessness to support the onrush of thousands of implacable enemies.
All at once Leon uttered a cry of surprise; he had just recognised the grand chief of the Moluchos, who was advancing at the head of a portion of the army to carry the hacienda by storm.
"Diego!" he shouted.
"Leon!" Tahi-Mari replied.
And then turning to the fighting Indians, he commanded them to stop.
Then, rushing towards the man who had been his friend, he said—
"You here! Why, unhappy man, you must wish for death!"
"Yes," Leon replied.
"Oh! I will save you!"
"Thanks, Diego. But will you also save those who are with me?"