Gueyma looked at him a moment with a strange earnestness, as if he had wished to read his most secret thoughts.
"It is good," said he at last; "what my brother says must be true. Gueyma thanks him, and offers him his hand."
"I accept it with alacrity, for I have a long time loved the captain," answered the partisan, pressing the hand that the chief held out to him.
"Now, what are the proofs that my brother will give me?"
Zeno Cabral searched under his poncho and drew out a quipu; the latter quickly seized it, and immediately proceeded to decipher it with the same rapidity that a European reads a letter.
Little by little the features of the chief resumed their marble rigidity; then, after having completely deciphered the quipu, he handed it to the Cougar, and, turning towards Zeno Cabral, who followed all his movements with secret anxiety:
"Now, I know the insult that has been offered me," said he, coldly, "my brother will give me, no doubt, the means of avenging myself."
"Perhaps I shall succeed," answered the partisan.
"Why have a doubt on the lips when certainty is in the heart," pursued Gueyma.
"What does the captain mean?"