Don Pancho saw there remained no subterfuge by which he could escape. Turning towards Antinahuel, therefore, he said with a smile—
"So be it! My brother is right; I will do what he desires."
The Toqui bowed gravely, the general placed the paper before him, wrote a few lines rapidly, and signed them.
"There, chief," he said, presenting the paper to Antinahuel; "that is what you require."
"Good!" the latter replied, taking it.
He turned it this way and he turned it that, as if to make out what the general had written; but as may be supposed, all his efforts produced no results. Don Pancho and Doña Maria watched him closely. At the expiration of a minute, the chief made another sign to Black Stag, who went out, but in a very short time returned, followed by two Indians leading a Chilian soldier between them.
"Moro Huinca," he said, in a rough voice, "can you explain what is set down on this paper?"
"What?" the soldier replied.
The general then added:—
"The chief asks you if you can read."