Two minutes later the same cry raised twice caused them to throw themselves in the saddle, and then at last, at the cry of the owl, they darted off at a gallop, doubled in pace by the instinctive fear that they experienced of terrible danger.
The marquis had ordered doña Laura to mount on horseback. The young girl obeyed passively, without uttering a word, and had placed herself, as well as her slave, in the middle of the line of horsemen.
The marquis had wished this because this position appeared to him least dangerous.
During all the night the Brazilians, leaning on the necks of their horses, galloped on.
At sunrise they had made eighteen or nineteen leagues, which was enormous, but the poor horses were spent.
At a league before them the fugitives perceived a broad stream.
It was the Pilcomayo, one of the most considerable affluents of the Rio Paraguai.
The marquis approached the captain.
"We have done wonders, Diogo," said he to him; "thanks to your admirable arrangements, we are saved."
"Do not thank me yet, my lord," answered the Indian, with a mocking smile "all is not yet finished."