As the poor Indian seemed quite exhausted with fatigue and want of food, they made him sit down. In spite of all his Indian stoicism, Curumilla literally seized the food as soon as it appeared, and devoured it greedily.
As soon as the keenness of his appetite was a little abated, Curumilla related the full details of all that had happened since his departure from the camp, the manner in which he had delivered the young lady, and how, an hour after, she had been recaptured by her enemies. When he quitted Doña Rosario the brave Indian had only kept at a sufficient distance from her to avoid being himself taken by her ravishers.
Don Tadeo and the count warmly thanked him.
"I have done nothing yet," he said, "since all must be begun again; and now," he added, "it will be more difficult, for they will be on their guard."
"Tomorrow," Don Tadeo replied, warmly, "we will set out all together on the track."
"Yes," the chief said, "I am aware you are to depart tomorrow."
The three men looked at each other with astonishment; they could not understand how the news of their movements should be known.
"There are no secrets for Aucas, when they wish to know them," the chief said with a smile.
"It is impossible!" Don Gregorio exclaimed angrily.
"Let my brother listen," the chief replied quietly. "Tomorrow, at sunrise, a detachment of a thousand white soldiers will leave Valdivia to conduct the prisoner Bustamente to Santiago. Is it not so?"