In the meantime the night became blacker and blacker, the horizon more menacing; a white and sharp rain began piercing the grey fog; the storm was rapidly approaching, and must soon burst forth. The soldiers watched with terror the progress of the storm, and instinctively sought shelter against this convulsion of nature, which was far more terrible than the other dangers which menaced them. For no one, who has not witnessed it, can form even a remote idea of an American hurricane, which twists trees like wisps of straw, fires forests, levels mountains, drives streams from their bed, and in a few hours convulses the surface of the soil.
Suddenly a dazzling flash furrowed the darkness, and a crashing burst of thunder broke the majestic silence that brooded over the landscape. At the same instant the sentry stationed a few paces in front of the bivouac challenged. The Jaguar sprang up as if he had received an electric shock, and bounding forward, as he mechanically seized the weapons lying within reach, listened. The dull sound of horses' hoofs could he heard on the soddened ground.
"Who's there?" the sentry challenged a second time.
"Friends," a voice replied.
"¿Qué gente?"
"Texas."
The Jaguar emerged from the jacal.
"To arms!" he shouted to his men, we must not let ourselves be surprised.
"Come, come," the voice continued, "I see that I have not diverged from the track, since I can hear the Jaguar."
"Halloh!" the latter said in surprise, "who are you, that you know me so well?"