"You may justly be proud of them, chief," Valentine exclaimed warmly.
"For that reason they are called Aucas—free men," replied Trangoil-Lanec.
"Suddenly a noise like thunder struck our ears, and between twenty and thirty mosotones passed by us like the wind. They took with them two women; one was the viper face, and the other the blue-eyed maiden."
"Oh!" the count exclaimed.
"A few minutes later," Trangoil-Lanec continued, "another troop, much more numerous than the first, arrived with equal swiftness; this was led by Antinahuel in person."
"He is wounded," Valentine observed.
"By his side galloped the Great Eagle of the Whites."
"Was he wounded?" Louis asked, anxiously.
"No, he carried himself upright."
"Oh! if he is not dead, we will save him."