So soon as the capataz had performed his duties as head of the detachment, he sat down at the bivouac fire by the side of his new friends, to whom Don Louis presented him. The first person Blas perceived was Don Martial, the Tigrero. At the sight of him he could hardly refrain from a movement of surprise.
"Caspita!" he exclaimed, with a loud laugh; "the meeting is curious."
"Why so?" the Mexican asked, rather annoyed by this recognition, which he had not expected, for he did not think the capataz knew him.
"Are you not Don Martial Asuzena?"
"Yes," he replied, more and more restless.
"My faith! I should have found it difficult to meet you at Guaymas; but I did not expect to find you here."
"Explain yourself, I beg. I cannot understand you at all."
"My young mistress gave me a message for you."
"What do you say?" the Tigrero exclaimed, his heart beginning to palpitate.
"What I say, nothing else. Doña Anita wishes to buy two jaguar skins of you, it appears."