Hearing that, Luis was sad, for he was in no mood to leave his sister in that plight. Still she urged him, saying: “Speed, brother, speed.”
Even then he hesitated, until with a great swoop there passed over the rock a condor wheeling low, and it said as it passed: “Fire will conquer frosted death.”
“You hear, brother,” said Natalia. “So speed and find fire and return before night.”
Then Luis stayed no longer, but waved his sister a farewell and set off down the valley, following the condor that hovered in the air, now darting away and now returning. So Luis knew that the great bird led him, and he ran, presently finding the river and following it until he reached the great vega where the waters met.
At the meeting of the waters he came to a house, a poor thing made of earth and stones snuggled in a warm fold of the hills. No one was about there, but as the condor flew high and, circling in the air, became a small speck, Luis knew that it would be well to stay a while and see what might befall. Pushing open the door he saw by the ashes in the fireplace that someone lived there, for there were red embers well covered to keep the fire alive. So seeing that the owner of the house would return soon he made himself free of the place, which was the way of that country, and brought fresh water from the spring. Then he gathered wood and piled it neatly by the fireside. Next he blew upon the embers and added twigs and sticks until a bright fire glowed, after which he took the broom of twigs and swept the earth floor clean.
How the man of the house came into the room Luis never knew, but there he was, sitting by the fire on a stool. He looked at things but said nothing to Luis, only nodding his head. Then he brought bread and yerba and offered some to Luis. After they had eaten the old man spoke, and this is what he said:
“Wicked is the white witch, and there is but one way to defeat her. What, lad, is the manner of her defeat? Tell me that.”
Then Luis, remembering what the condor had said, repeated the words: “ ‘Fire will conquer frosted death.’ ”
“True,” said the man slowly, nodding his head. “And your sister is there. Now here comes our friend the condor, who sees far and knows much.”
“Now with cold grows faint her breath,