"Tarou Niom has been assured that they were at least two thousand."
"Ai; that is extraordinary; I have been told that their number is not more than five hundred."
Diogo bit his lips, but immediately collecting himself—
"They are more numerous than the leaves strewed by the hurricane," said he, "only they are divided into little war detachments."
"Ha!" cried the chief, with alarm, "That is terrible."
"Moreover," added Diogo, who knew the terror Indians have for Negroes, "each war detachment is followed by a considerable number of coatas (Negroes), who have taken the terrible oath to massacre all the Payagoas wanderers, and to carry away their wives and daughters."
"Oh!" said the chief, with a feeling of ill-concealed fright; "The coatas are not men, they resemble evil genii. The warning of my brother shall not be lost. This very evening the women and children shall leave the village to withdraw into the Llano de Manso, and the warriors shall proceed to march to the ford of Camato, followed by all the war canoes."
Diogo rose—
"Does the Grand Sarigue leave, then, already?" asked the chief, rising also.
"It is necessary, chief; Tarou Niom has charged me with making the greatest haste."