White Scalper gazed with growing astonishment on this admirable child, so gay, so laughing, so loving, and who appeared so beloved. He could not account for her presence among the pirates, or the affection their Captain testified for her.
"You love this child very dearly," he said, as he drew her gently towards him, and kissed her on the forehead.
She looked at him with widely opened eyes, but did not evince the slightest fear, or try to avoid his caresses.
"You ask if I love her," the pirate answered; "that child is the joy and happiness of our house. Do you think, then," he added, with some bitterness, "that because we are outlawed bandits we have stifled every generous feeling in our hearts? Undeceive yourself. The jaguar and panther love their cubs, the grizzly bear cherishes its whelps; should we be more ferocious than these animals, which are regarded as the most cruel in creation? Yes, yes, we love our White Gazelle! She is our good genius, our guardian angel; so long as she remains among us we shall succeed in everything, for good fortune accompanies her."
"Oh, in that case, father," she said eagerly, "you will always be fortunate, for I shall never leave you."
"Who can answer for the future?" he muttered in a choking voice, while a cloud of sorrow spread over his manly face.
"You are a happy father," the Scalper said, with a profound sigh.
"Yes, am I not? White Gazelle is not mine alone, she belongs to us all; she is our adopted daughter."
"Ah!" said the Scalper, without adding anything more, and letting his head drop sadly.
"Go, child," Sandoval exclaimed, "go and sleep, for night is drawing on."