"Yes," Don Gregorio replied, "I must admit that what you say is correct."
"Well," said the Ulmen smiling, "I cannot deny that the man who gave me these details had no suspicion that I overheard him."
"Explain yourself, chief, I implore you!" Don Tadeo cried; "we are upon burning coals."
"I have told you that I followed Antinahuel's party; I must add that occasionally I got before them. The day before yesterday, at sunrise, the Black Stag, who was left with Antinahuel's warriors during his absence, was on the prairie of the treaties, and as soon as he saw his chief, galloped to meet him. As I had no doubt that these two men, during their conference, would allow some words to escape that might afterwards be of service to me, I drew as close to them as possible, and that is the way they placed me in possession of their projects."
"Of their projects?" Don Gregorio asked, "are they mad enough, then, to think of attacking us?"
"The pale woman has made Antinahuel swear to deliver her friend, who is a prisoner."
"Well! and what then?"
"Antinahuel will deliver him."
"Ay, ay!" said Don Gregorio, "but that project is more easily formed than executed, chief."
"The soldiers are obliged to traverse the Canyon del Rio Seco."