"Yes," said the Puelche, in a melancholy tone, "I have heard of these men from the chiefs of my tribe; they live only for murder."
"That is it!" she said, with sinister delight. "Well, chief, do you think yourself able to traverse these vast deserts, and reach the Grou-Chaco?"
"Why should I not?" the Indian replied, raising his head proudly, "Do there exist obstacles strong enough to resist the Araucano warrior in his course? The puma is the king of the forests, the vulture that of the heavens; but the Aucas is the king of the puma and the eagle; the desert is his—Guatechu has given it to him; his horse and his lance render him invincible and master of immensity."
"Then my brother will accomplish this journey, which is impossible?"
A disdainful smile played for an instant round the lips of the savage warrior.
"I will accomplish it," he said.
"Good! my brother is a chief—I perceive he is one now."
The Puelche bowed modestly.
"My brother will go there, then, and when he arrives in the Chaco, he will sell the pale girl to the Guayacuras."
The Indian did not allow any mark of astonishment to be perceived upon his face.