"Fly, fly! quicker, oh quicker!"
And the horse redoubled its speed, and thus ran with the rapidity of the stag pursued by a pack of hounds. All at once the old man perceived a band of horsemen debouching from a hollow way just ahead of him.
"Courage, Carmela!" he shouted; "We are saved."
"Go on, go on," the maiden replied.
This band was the Jaguar's; the young Chief in his impatience to reach the hacienda, was galloping a long distance ahead of his men. All at once he perceived the horseman coming towards him.
"Oh!" he exclaimed, with a feeling of deep hatred; "White Scalper."
He at once stopped his horse, so suddenly that the noble animal all but fell, and raised his rifle.
"Stop, stop, do not fire! In Heaven's name do not fire!" the Canadian shouted, who was spurring his horse and coming up at full speed, followed by Loyal Heart and the main body.
But, before the hunter could reach the Jaguar, the latter, who had not heard, or, probably, had not understood him, pulled the trigger. White Scalper, struck in the middle of the chest, rolled in the sand, dragging Carmela down with him in his fall.
"Ah!" Tranquil said, in despair, addressing Loyal Heart, "The unhappy man has killed his father!"