"Speak, speak!" he exclaimed, in great agitation.
"And suppose I should not please to do so?" she replied ironically. And she laughed like a demon.
"But no," she continued, in a bitterly sarcastic tone, "I cannot bear malice: come along with me, Don Tadeo; I will lead you to her whom you have so long sought for in vain, and whom but for me you would never see again. And see how generous I am," she added, jeeringly. "Come along with me, Don Tadeo."
She hastily left the hut, and Don Tadeo followed her, struck by a horrible presentiment.
[CHAPTER XXXVI.]
A THUNDERCLAP.
The Araucanos, spread about the camp, saw with surprise these two persons, both in apparent agitation, pass them. Doña Maria rushed into the toldo, followed by Don Tadeo. Doña Rosario was fast asleep upon a bed of dry leaves, covered with sheepskins. She had the appearance of a dead person. Don Tadeo, deceived by this, sprang towards her, exclaiming in a tone of despair—
"She is dead! oh, heavens, she is dead!"
"No, no," said the Linda, "she is asleep."