"You shall soon judge of that; but let us speak of preliminaries. You have been detained, you say?"
"Yes," answered the Cougar: "in the first place, we were joined by one of the principal chiefs of our tribe, who, at the head of a small detachment of warriors, crossed the desert to confirm us in the news that we had already received, as to the treason of the—"
"Ah?" cried Zeno Cabral. "And that chief was sent to you by—"
"By Tarou Niom himself," said the Cougar; "his name is Arnal," added he, darting a significant look at the Montonero.
"Arnal!" cried the latter, with a nervous start and a frown.
"My brother knows the chief, then?" asked Gueyma.
"I?" asked Zeno Cabral, with feigned indifference; "My brother is joking, no doubt; how should I know him?"
"Certainly, that is not to be expected, unless my brother has formerly traversed the hunting grounds of my tribe."
"I have never turned my horse's head in that direction. The chief has doubtless returned, then, after having accomplished his mission."
"No; he has remained with as," said the Cougar, "but our troop has since been increased."