"Who are you?" replied Evaña, looking at him in surprise. "I have never that I know of done you any service, or even seen you before."
"Already have you forgotten the massacre at Perdriel, where you dragged me out from among the dead, and saved me when they were coming to finish us?"
"You are the man that I helped from under a dead horse! I think I remember your face now."
"Yes, I am that man whose life you saved. I am Venceslao Viana."
"You never told me your name, but I am glad that I was able to assist you. Alas! the most of those lying there were beyond all assistance."
"Two minutes more and I should have been like the rest, beyond all assistance, for I knew nothing of their speech, and you spoke for me. You saved my life."
"Hum!" answered Evaña, looking steadily at the eager eyes of the man before him.
"Yes, Señor, I owe you my life," said Venceslao, somewhat abashed by the cold, searching gaze of Evaña. "I owe you my life, and, as I told you then, my services, everything that I have is at your disposal, send me where you will and I will go, tell me anything I may do for you and I will do it."
"Perhaps some day I may need your services," replied Evaña; "then I will apply to you freely, and shall count upon you."