"Valentine alone can save her," he said.
He mounted the horse, and proceeded toward the Paso, asking himself this question, which he found it impossible to answer:—
"But why did not that man kill me?"
A few paces from the village he perceived two men halting on the road, and conversing with the greatest animation. They hurriedly advanced toward him, and the young man uttered a cry of surprise on recognising them. They were Valentine and Curumilla.
[CHAPTER XXIV.]
THE REVOLT.
Don Miguel Zarate had marched rapidly on the Paso, and an hour after leaving Valentine he saw flashing in the distance the lights that shone in the village windows. The greatest calmness prevailed in the vicinity; only at times could be heard the barking of the dogs baying at the moon, or the savage miawling of the wild cats hidden in the shrubs. At about one hundred yards from the village a man suddenly rose before the small party.
"Who goes there?" he shouted.
"Méjico e independencia!" the hacendero answered.