The three Indians sat down with the ceremony usual upon such occasions. They lit their pipes, and smoked silently. At length, after a considerable time, Antinahuel began—
"Here," said he, "is the quipu, which the herald who came from Paki-Pulli handed at about the seventh hour to me, Antinahuel, the son of the Black Jackal."
He drew from under his poncho a light piece of wood, about ten inches long, very thick split, and holding a human finger.
"My brother sees," Antinahuel continued, "that upon the black wool there are four knots, to indicate that the herald left Paki-Pulli four days after the moon; upon the white there are ten knots, which signify that ten days after that period, that is to say, in three days, the four confederated Uthal-mapus will take up arms, as has been agreed in a grand auca-coyog convoked by the Toquis; upon the red I have made a knot, which means that the warriors placed under my orders will join the expedition, and that the chiefs may depend upon my concurrence. Will my brothers follow my example?"
"My brother has forgotten to tell me one thing," Trangoil-Lanec replied.
"Let my brother explain himself," said Antinahuel.
"Against whom is this expedition?"
"Against the palefaces," he said, with a tone of mortal hatred.
"Very well," said Trangoil-Lanec, "my brother is a powerful chief, he will give me the quipu."
Antinahuel handed it to him. The Araucano warrior received the quipu, examined it, seized the red fringe and the blue fringe, he joined them, made a knot over them, and passed the piece of wood to Curumilla, who followed his example.