"Curses on you!" cried the pirate, in vain endeavouring to free himself from his enemy.
And then took place a scene which chilled the spectators with horror.
The horse, which Loyal Heart had left his hold of, when at liberty, furious with being urged on by its master and checked by Loyal Heart, and with the double weight imposed upon it, sprang forward, mad with rage, breaking and overturning in its course every object that opposed its passage. But it still carried, clinging to its sides, the two men struggling to kill each other, and who on the back of the terrified animal writhed about like serpents.
Eagle Head had, as we have said, pulled back the head of the pirate; he placed his knee against his loins, uttered his hideous war cry, and flourished with a terrible gesture his knife around the brow of his enemy.
"Kill me, then, vile wretch!" the pirate cried, and with a rapid effort he raised his left hand, still armed with a pistol, but the bullet was lost in space.
The Comanche chief fixed his eyes upon the captain's face.
"Thou art a coward!" he said, with disgust, "and an old woman, who is afraid of death!"
At the same time he pushed the bandit forcibly with his knee, and plunged the knife into his skull.
The captain uttered a piercing cry, which arose into the air, mingled with the howl of triumph of the chief.
The horse stumbled over a root; the two enemies rolled upon the ground.