"Confound it!" Valentine said laughingly, as he regulated his pace by the trot of the horses, "do you fancy you are going to tell me any news? Did you not really suspect from what quarter the blow came?"
"What!" Don Miguel exclaimed in surprise, "did you—"
"Who else but I? Do you think the Spaniards are such friends of the Indians that the latter would treat them so kindly when meeting them face to face in the desert?"
"I was sure of it," General Ibañez affirmed. "I guessed it at the first moment."
"Good heavens! Nothing was more simple. Your position, through Red Cedar's treachery, was most critical. I wished to give you the time to turn round by removing, for a few days, the obstacles that prevented the success of your plans. I have succeeded, I fancy."
"You could not have managed better," exclaimed the general.
"Oh!" Don Miguel said with a reproachful accent, "why did you hide it from me?"
"For a very simple reason, my friend. I wished that in these circumstances your will and conscience should be free."
"But—"
"Let me finish. Had I told you of my plan, it is certain that you would have opposed it. You are a man of honor, Don Miguel: your heart is most loyal."