The Guide of the Desert

etically pronounced by the young girl, som

ugubrious note of the owl, concealed in the hollows of the rocks, was heard, repeated from the distance like a dismal echo. Vague and indefinable sounds arose, carried on the wings of the wind, dying

s head reclining on his breast; he strode about the tent, a

owed him with a fixed and mocking look, waiting with anxiety the ap

d an age to the young girl, the marquis st

ly a light nervous quivering of his eyebrows-an index with him of a furious rage, mastere

e. In fact," added he, with an ironical smile, "of what use is it to discuss an accomplished fact? Nothing that you can say will change your actual position; you are in my power; no human aid can succeed in

ight hand, and surveying him with a look, in which contempt and rai

, I will allow you to speak as much as you please, since it is impossible for me to impose silence on you, and I am condemned to hear you; only, I warn you beforehand, in

o much violence that he drew b

nswer me? I shall be deprived of hearing the harmonious music of your gentle voice resound

sdain. "The occasion is suitab

not to allow it t

own, and assuming an attitude full of grace and carelessness, he continued in a

plans, that I presented myself to your father. You see that I imitate your candour. I did not love you, and, to say the truth, I do not love you now. A woman like you, seductive as you are, would not suit me; your disposition is too much like my own. I should have probably married you had you consented

mocking smile, and clapped h

curtain was drawn aside

, in spite of myself, my eyelids drooping, and sleep overcoming me, bring me the maté, my child, and bring me at the same time p

ained an instant, overcome by the superb coolnes

he Negress was again heard, and she reappeared, holding in her hands a silver platter, on whic

to her mistress, and mad

what the marquis has to tell me can

ontinently to lie at the feet of her mistress, exchanging with her a moc

your slave, Se?orita; it is little consequence to me who hears o

without paying any attention

gh in the maté, chica," s

y you with the recital of the means employed by me to succeed in deceiving the restless vigilance of your family. Since you are here alone in my power, at several hundred leagues from the residence of your fat

is too bitter," said the you

lave

arried you away, it is true; but reassure yourself, as long as you remain under my protection, your honour shall be safe; I give you the word of a gentleman for it. You smile; you are wrong. I am honest in my way. Give me the exact indications that I expect from you, and immediately I grant you, not only liberty, bu

Laura remained mute, and

ome animation "you are wrong; you are staking, I repeat,

e," interrupted do?a Laur

sed irritation; "Beware, Se?orita we must f

head to foot, covering him, so to speak, with a look charged with all the contempt whic

nd on her shoulder; "the night is far advanced

quis, mute and stupefied with this audacious

the folds of which still preserved a scarcely perceptible vibration. All of a sudden he recovered himself, passed his hand

ifled by fury, "What tortures w

, staggering lik

e his features regained their serenity; calmness returned to his mind; an ironical smile p

insults and contempt to me? Am I not master to subdue her pride? Patience, patience! Nay, vengeance,

Don Roque approached a round stool, which served him for a table, and drawing from his breast a yellow and stained paper, on which was rudely dra

arquis quitting the position he had taken, and

s that of the diamond country, which concealed those in

in superficial manner, by an ignorant man-could unluckily only be a feeble aid to

e had done with do?a Laura? How was he to vanqu

in his thoughts, had not appeared to perceive the return of the light, when the

tain of the tent was withdr

features, and his forehead covered with pers

ed the marquis on perceivin

lord," answer

en able to succeed in discove

the contrary, followed that tr

have news

rd, but not wh

y friend; my head is

honour, thoroughly devious, and as to which everybody but myself would inevitably have been deceived, so skilfully was it made-I arrived on the borders of a forest, into which I did not h

s so near us!" cried the

bravos, and moreover, the

-alr

Indians, of whom one was a Guaycurus, the other a Paya

at is serio

be more seri

you escape fr

one of their most deadly enemies, they, nevertheless, receive

nge," murmure

r invitation frankly, and sat myself near them. My

at did t

ad had a long conversation with them, and that he had informed them of your arriva

double traitor!"

eat embarrassment, from which I did not know how to escape, when the Indi

is

me that the truce concluded wi

quis, "What fatality! T

to finish

k! Sp

plantations, you were ignorant of this rupture, and that consequen

marquis, brea

ting in the laws of hospitality,

e profoundly into the perplexity from which, for an instant

t truth, my lor

u, my friend;

hey informed me that, in case you refused to accept

d they tell you noth

word, m

tely unaware where this

me was of such great importance, that you would desire to be informed

nk you. But in such circumstances as

d beat a

retreat;

be massacred to

push ahead. You w

you; wherever you go I will foll

with as tranquil and careless a step as though he were not certain beforeh

ant motionless; then, stamping his foot with r

iamonds; I will have them, although it were necessary