"Just so," said the painter; "what is this news—good or bad?"
"That depends, master, on how you estimate it."
"Good; let me know first."
"Do you know that the Spanish officers, whom they were going to try tomorrow, or the day after, have escaped?"
"Escaped!" cried, the painter, with astonishment, "When was that?"
"This very morning; they passed near here scarcely two hours ago, mounted on horses of the Pampas, and galloping furiously in the direction of the Cordilleras."
"Upon my word, so much the better for them—I am delighted at it, for, as matters go in this country, they would have been shot."
"They would have been shot certainly," said the Indian, nodding his head.
"That would have been a pity," said the young man. "Although I know very little about them, and they have placed me, by their fault, in a rather difficult position, I should have been sorry if any misfortune had happened to them. So you are certain that they have really escaped?"
"Master, I have seen them."