"You will pardon this apparent indiscretion, for which the interest I have in you is the only excuse."
"I am persuaded of it, señor; but you can speak. I have not, thank God, occasion to fear any indiscretion."
"If that is the case—and I congratulate you on it—I will explain myself without fear."
"Pardieu!" said Emile, turning the spit on which he was concentrating all his attention; "Speak, my dear sir; do not hesitate the least in the world."
The two chiefs, apparently indifferent to this conversation, which they understood perfectly, for it was carried on in Spanish, listened attentively to it.
"In the first place," pursued the Montonero, "let me express my astonishment at meeting you here, when I thought you were very far off."
"The matter is very simple however. After the storm that had assailed us near the Valle del Tambo, when you had left us as well as Señor Pincheyra, I confess that my companions and I were much embarrassed."
"What! Señor Don Pablo Pincheyra left you suddenly?" cried the Montonero, feigning surprise.
"Mon Dieu! Yes," answered the young man, good naturedly; "he pretended that we were too far from his camp for his escort to be useful to us, and that, since you thought fit to attend to your affairs, he did not see any reason why he should not attend to his; and thereupon made us his compliments, and went away—of which, between ourselves, I was very glad, for notwithstanding all the courtesy which Don Pablo has manifested towards us, his company, I confess, was not at all agreeable to me."
"But the persons with whom I had set out from the camp of Casa-Frama, and whom I had commended to you before my departure?"