"He must."
"It is well. But this other woman?" he asked, pointing to Doña Concha.
"She is a friend of Pincheira's; she also wishes to speak with the great Toqui."
"The warriors will spin llama wool," the sorcerer said, shaking his head, "since women wage war and sit at the council fire."
"My father is mistaken; Nocobotha loves his sister."
"No," the Indian said.
"Will my father make haste? Nocobotha is waiting for us," Mercedes continued, impatient at the savage's tergiversation; "where is the toldo of the great chief?"
"Follow me, my white daughters."
He placed himself between them, seized an arm of each, and guided them through the inextricable labyrinth of the camp. The terrified Indians fled as they passed. In his heart the matchi was satisfied with Mercedes' presents, and the opportunity for proving to the warriors his intimate relations with Gualichu. The marching and counter-marching lasted a quarter of an hour, and at last they found themselves before a toldo, in front of which was planted the token of the united nations, surrounded by lances fringed with scarlet, and guarded by four warriors.
"It is here," he said to Mercedes.