"Ooch!" replied the chief, "Can that be the Black Serpents again? Can they have preceded instead of pursuing us? How does it happen that they venture in this manner upon the Chilian territory? We had better retire for the night."
[CHAPTER XLII.]
THE QUIPU.
After a frugal repast, the travellers were preparing to take a little repose, when Cæsar barked furiously. Everyone flew to his arms. At length the noise of steps was heard, the bushes were thrust apart, and an Indian appeared. It was Antinahuel. At the sight of this man, Rosario could not repress a cry of terror. Her mother threw herself before her.
Antinahuel did not appear to perceive the presence of the young lady or of the Linda; he advanced slowly, without moving a muscle of his face. When within a few paces of Trangoil-Lanec, he stopped and saluted him.
"I come to sit at the fireside of my brother," he said.
"My brother is welcome," the chief replied.
"No, I only wish to smoke with my brother, for the sake of communicating to him some important news."
"It shall be as my brother desires," Trangoil-Lanec replied.