"Does my brother then refuse to render me this service?" the chief pressed him.
"I do not refuse you, chief; only I am prevented doing what you request by a very simple reason."
"And what is that reason?"
"It is that my companion and I are both Frenchmen."
"Well, and what then?"
"We speak a little Spanish, but we cannot read it."
"Ah!" said the chief, in a tone of doubt; but, after walking about, and reflecting a minute, he added,—"Hem! that is possible."
He then turned towards the two Frenchmen, who, on their part, were, in appearance, impassive and indifferent.
"Let my brothers wait an instant," he said; "I know a man in my tribe who understands the marks which the whites make upon paper: I will go and order him to translate this letter."
The young men bowed, and the chief left the apartment.