Antinahuel appeared to hesitate for a minute—an ironical smile flitted across his lips.
"Will not my brother answer?" the Linda continued, with an impatience mingled with uneasiness.
"He whom my sister calls General Bustamente," he replied in a sharp tone, "no longer needs the assistance of anyone: he is a prisoner."
The Linda sprang up like a wounded lioness.
"A prisoner!" she cried. "Oh! my brother must be mistaken."
"He is a prisoner, and within three days will be dead."
The Linda was struck with stupor; this frightful news crushed all her hopes.
"Oh!" she murmured at length, "he shall not die!"
"He will die!" Antinahuel replied; "who can save him?"
"You, chief!" she said, emphatically grasping his arm.