"I have passed my examinations," the doctor replied, offended by the epithet applied to him.
"Very well! you are just the man I want, then."
The savant bowed with a very ill grace; it was evident he was not much flattered by the attention.
"What do you require of me?" he asked; "are you ill?"
"Not I, thank God! but one of your friends, who is at this moment my prisoner, is; so please to follow me."
"But——" the doctor would fain have objected.
"I admit of no excuses; follow me, or I will blow your brains out. Besides, don't be afraid, you run no risk; my men will pay you all the respect science is entitled to."
As resistance was impossible, the worthy man did as he was bidden with a good grace—with so good a grace, even, that for a second he allowed a smile to stray across his lips, which would have aroused the suspicions of the pirate if he had perceived it.
The captain commanded the savant to walk on before him, and both thus reached the river.
At the instant they quitted the place where this conversation, had taken place, the branches of a bush parted slowly, and a head, shaved with the exception of a long tuft of hair at the top, on which was stuck an eagle's feather, appeared, then a body, and then an entire man, who bounded like a jaguar in pursuit of them.