The Guaraní answered by a sneer of bad omen.
"There is something, is there not?" asked Emile, with uneasiness.
"With the Pincheyras there is always something, my friend," pursued the Indian, in a low voice; "but here we are at your toldo; be prudent."
"Inform the gauchos that probably we shall set out today; prepare all, so that we may be ready."
"We are going to leave?"
"I hope so."
"Oh, then, all is not yet lost."
They entered the toldo; it was deserted; Don Santiago had not yet appeared.
Whilst Tyro went to tell the gauchos to get ready, to saddle their horses, and to bring the baggage mules from the corral, the young man proceeded, with feverish rapidity, to make his preparations.
So when, half an hour later, Don Santiago entered the toldo, the suspicious look that he threw around him did not reveal anything which could give rise to a suspicion that the Frenchman had not commenced his task immediately after having quitted him.