In a few minutes all the camp was roused. The noise drew nearer and nearer.
"¿Quién vive?" the sentinel cried.
"Chile!" replied a powerful voice.
"¿Qué gente?" went on the soldier.
"Gente de paz," said the voice, and immediately added, "Don Gregorio Peralta."
"Come on! come on!" cried Valentine.
"Caspita! caballeros," Don Gregorio replied warmly, shaking the hands that were on all sides held out to him—"what a fortunate chance."
With Don Gregorio thirty horsemen entered the camp.
"What do you mean by 'quickly?'" Don Tadeo asked. "Were you in search of us, my friend?"
"Caray! It was expressly to find you that I left Valdivia a few hours ago."