"Do not be alarmed; he will not keep us at work all that time; the boar is at bay, and will soon be found. However large the desert may be, it possesses no unexplored refuge to men who are accustomed to traverse it in every direction. Red Cedar has done more than a common man to escape us. Now all is over with him, and he understands that it is only a question of time."
"May Heaven grant it, my friend. I would give my life to avenge myself on that monster."
"He will soon be in your power, I assure you."
At this moment Curumilla laid his hand on Valentine's arm.
"Well, chief, what is it?" the latter asked.
"Listen!"
The hunters did so. They soon heard, at a considerable distance, confused cries, which momentarily became more distinct, and soon merged into a fearful clamour.
"What is happening now?" Valentine asked, thoughtfully.
The shouts increased fearfully, strange lights illumined the forest, whose guests, disturbed in their sleep, flew heavily here and there, uttering plaintive cries.
"Attention!" the hunter said, "Let us try and discover what all this means."