The door opened, and a man entered.
His arrival was saluted with cries of joy. Don Rafaël rose eagerly, and went towards him, followed by his lady.
I was the more astonished at this welcome, from the newly arrived guest being nothing but an Indian bravo, or independent; he wore the complete costume of the warriors of his nation. Thanks to the numerous sojourns I had made among the redskins, I thought that this man must belong to one of the numerous tribes of the Comanches.
"Oh! Eagle Head! Eagle Head!" shouted the children, surrounding him with glee.
The Indian took them in his arms, one after the other, kissed them, and got rid of them by giving them some of those little toys which the aborigines of America cut with such exquisite taste.
He then advanced smiling, saluted the numerous company assembled in the hall with perfect ease, and took his place between the master and the mistress of the house.
"We expected you before sunset, chief," said the lady, in a friendly manner: "it is not right to disappoint your friends."
"Eagle Head was on the track of the jaguars," said the chief, sententiously; "my daughter must not have cause for fear; the jaguars are dead."
"What! have you already killed the jaguars, chief?" said Don Rafaël, eagerly.
"My brother will see. The skins are very handsome; they are in the court."