822
THE TBAK-HOTTEB.
friends almost touched the young man as they passed, and he instinctively carried his hand to his pistols; they even stopped for a moment and cast suspicious glances at the clump that concealed their foe. "While conversing in whispers, Unicorn drew a few branches aside and peered in; for some seconds Nathan felt an indescribable agony; a eold perspiration stood at the root of his hair and the blood coursed to his heart; in a word, he was afraid. He knew that if these men, his mortal enemies, discovered him, they would be pitiless to him and kill him like a dog. But this apprehension did not last longer than a lightning flash; Unicorn carelessly let the leafy curtain fall again, saying only one word to his comrades—
" Nothing."
The latter resumed their march.
" I do not know why," said Valentine, "but I fancy there is some one hidden there."
" No," the jchief answered, " there is nobody."
""Well, be it so," the hunter muttered, with a toss of his head.
So soon as he was alone, Nathan drew two or three deep breaths, and started in pursuit of Dob Pablo and the missionary, whom he soon caught up. As they did not suppose they were followed, they were conversing freely together.
In Spanish America, where the days are so warm and the nights so fresh, the inhabitants, shut up at home so long as the sun calcines the ground, go out at nightfall to breathe a little pure air; the streets, deserted in consequence of the heat, are gradually peopled; benches are placed before the doors, on which persons recline to smoke and gossip, drink orangeade, strum the