"You, certainly; and why not, if it conduce to the success of our plans?"
"My friend, you speak in a way that is entirely incomprehensible to me; my mind seeks vainly to follow you, and to grasp your meaning in the midst of the inextricable network in which you are pleased to entangle it. Be plain with me, and do not let me thus fatigue myself to no purpose in trying to guess your meaning."
"Well, in a few words, here is what has happened: The Brazilian general with whom we treated had but one motive in entering into relations with us—to remove us, for reasons that he thinks are known to himself alone, but which I know as well as he does from our hunting territories, and to remove us in such a way as we should never return to them again."
"But it appears to me that if such were his design he has attained it to a certain extent."
"Perhaps he has realised the half of his plan, but the other half will not succeed so easily. This man is not only the enemy of our tribe, but he is your most implacable enemy, and his most anxious desire is to make you succumb to him."
"Me! But he does not know me, my friend."
"You think so, dear Gueyma; but I am in a better position than you to judge the matter; believe then, the truth of my words."
"It is sufficient; I am happy to know what you tell me."
"Why so?"
"Because the first time that chance brings me in his presence I shall make no scruple to cleave his head open."