"No diplomacy between us, brother," she said, "we know each other too well to lose time in manoeuvring."
"My sister is right; let us speak frankly."
"The story of your return to your tribe is very clever, Antinahuel, but I do not believe a word of it."
"Good! then my sister knows the reason that brings me here."
"I do know it," she said, with an arch smile, which played like a sunbeam round her rosy lips.
Antinahuel made no reply. He began to walk in great agitation about the room, casting looks of anger and vexation towards the door by which Rosario had gone out. The Linda followed him with a keen and mocking eye.
"Well," she said, at the end of a minute, "will not my brother speak?"
"Why should I not speak?" he angrily replied. "Antinahuel is the most redoubtable chief of his nation, the proudest warriors bend their lofty brows without hesitation before him!"
"I am waiting," she said, in a calm voice.
"A chief explains himself clearly, no one imposes upon him. My sister knows my hatred for the chief of the palefaces, of whom she has so much reason to complain."