the Indians are in chase also."

Other and more formidable hunters now appeared in their turn upon the
arena. A dozen of the wild horses, which they had seen before, were now
seen galloping wildly over the plain, while some Indians, mounted
bareback on their horses (having taken their saddles off for greater
speed), with their knees almost up to their chins, were pursuing the
terrified animals. At first there were but three Indians visible; but
one by one about twenty appeared, some armed with lances, and others
brandishing their lassoes of plaited leather--all uttering those cries
by which they express their joy or anger.

Pepe glanced at the Canadian as though to ask whether he had calculated
these terrible chances when he wished to make Fabian share their
adventurous career. For the first time, at such a crisis, the intrepid
hunter looked deadly pale. An eloquent but sad glance was his reply to
the Spaniard's mute interrogation.

"A too great affection in the heart of the bravest man," thought Pepe,
"makes him tremble for him who he loves more than life; and adventurers
like us should have no ties. There is Bois-Rose trembling like a
woman!"

However, they felt almost certain that even the practiced eyes of the
Indians could not discover them in their retreat; and the three men,
after their first alarm had passed over, watched coolly the manoeuvres
of the Indians. These continued to pursue the flying horses; the
numberless obstacles so thickly strewn over the plain--the ravines, the
hillocks, and the sharp-pointed cacti--could not stop them. Without
slackening the impetuosity of their pace or turning aside from any
obstacle, these horsemen cleared them with wonderful address. Bold
rider as he was himself, Fabian looked with enthusiasm on the
astonishing agility of these wild hunters, but the precautions which
they were forced to take, in order to conceal themselves, made the three
friends lose a part of this imposing spectacle.

The vast savannahs, late so deserted, were suddenly changed into a scene
of tumult and confusion. The stag, returning to the bank, continued to
fly, with the wolves still after him. The wild horses galloped before
the Indians--whose howlings equalled that of the wolves--and described
great circles to avoid the lance or the lasso, while numerous echoes
repeated these various sounds.

The sight of Fabian, who followed with an ardent eye all these
tumultuous evolutions, not app