"Very well," said Valentine, "this is what I propose."
All were silent as the grave. The Frenchman drew his sword, and waved the bright blade before the eyes of the spectators.
"You see this weapon," said he, in a pompous tone; "I will put it into my mouth, and swallow it up to the hilt. If Trangoil-Lanec is guilty, I shall die; if he is innocent, as I affirm, Pillian will help me, and I shall draw forth the sword from my body without suffering a wound."
"My brother speaks like a courageous warrior," said Curumilla; "we are ready to behold."
"I will not suffer it!" Trangoil-Lanec shouted. "Does my brother want to kill himself?"
"Pillian is judge!" Valentine replied, with a smile of strange expression, and with an air of conviction admirably well played.
The two Frenchmen exchanged a glance. The Indians are perfect children in their love of spectacle, and the extraordinary proposal of the Parisian seemed to them to admit of no reply.
"The trial! the trial!" they shouted.
"Very well," said Valentine; "let my brothers behold, then."
He first placed himself in the proper position adopted by jugglers when they exhibit this feat in public places; then introducing the blade of the sword into his mouth, in a few seconds the whole of it disappeared. During the performance of this trick, which in their eyes was a miracle, the Puelches watched the bold Frenchman in breathless terror. They could not comprehend how a man could perform such an operation without deliberately killing himself. Valentine turned on all sides, so that everyone might be convinced of the reality of the fact; then he deliberately withdrew the blade from his mouth, as bright as when it came from the sheath. A cry of enthusiasm burst from the crowd: the miracle was evident.