The latter returned in a very few minutes.
They had recognised the strangers. The first were Macobis, the others Trentones.
But almost immediately appeared a third troop, then a fourth, then a fifth, and at last a sixth.
Scouts were immediately dispatched to meet them, and they were not long in returning, announcing that they were detachments of Chiriguanos, Langoas, Abipones, and Payagoas.
"Epoï!" answered the Cougar, at each announcement which was made to him; "The warriors will camp at the foot of the hill; the chiefs will come up near us."
The scouts then set off at full speed, and proceeded to communicate to the captains of the different detachments the orders of their chief.
Arrived at a certain distance from the bank, on the summit of which the camp of the Guaycurus was established, the Indian detachments stopped, uttered their war cry with a resounding voice, and, after having executed certain evolutions, making their horses caracole, they proceeded to establish themselves at the points which had been assigned to them.
The chiefs of their detachments, followed each by two warriors more particularly attached to their persons, ascended the hill at a gallop and entered the camp, where they were received in the most cordial way by the Guaycurus chiefs, who were mounted on horseback, and had advanced some paces to meet them.
After a rather long interchange of compliments, in which all the minute exigencies of Indian etiquette were studied, the chiefs proceeded together towards the council fire, where all sat down without distinction of, place or rank.
There was then perfect silence in the assembly. The slaves gave to each some tobacco rolled in palm leaves, and sent round the maté that the chiefs drank slowly and religiously, according to custom.