It was The Cat, but Paul, whose arms had been left unbound, whirled, without hesitation, and struck the Natchez in the face.
The Cat staggered but he promptly drew a knife and Paul might have been slain, but a soldier knocked the knife from the Indian's hand and rebuked him severely.

The soldier was Luiz, a Spaniard of height and strength.

He had fared badly at the hands of the five, but his life had also been saved by one of them, and he was not ungrateful.

He did not mean that these two prisoners should be treated any worse than the captain ordered.

He compelled The Cat to fall back, and he smiled pleasantly at Paul and Long Jim.
"I'll take it that we've got one friend in this crowd," said Long Jim.
"Yes," said Paul, "and we'll need all we can get.