"Immediately," Trangoil-Lanec replied; "only we ought to adopt a line from which we will not deviate."
"That is reasoning like a prudent man, chief; submit your observations to us."
"I think," said Trangoil-Lanec, "that to recover the track of the pale blue-eyed maiden, we must return to San Miguel."
"That is my opinion," said Valentine; "I cannot, indeed, see how we can do otherwise."
Curumilla shook his head dissentingly.
"No," he said, "that track would mislead us."
The two Frenchmen looked at him with astonishment, whilst Trangoil-Lanec continued smoking.
"I do not comprehend you, chief," said Valentine.
"Let my brothers listen," exclaimed Curumilla. "Antinahuel is a powerful and formidable chief; he is the greatest of the Araucano warriors. He has declared war against the palefaces; this war he will carry on cruelly, because he has with him a Huincas man and woman, who, for their own purposes, will urge him to invade their country. Antinahuel will assemble his warriors, but he will not return to his village. The blue-eyed maiden was carried off by the woman with a viper's heart, in order to induce the chief to enter upon this war. In order to discover the track of the female puma, the hunters follow that of the male; to find the track of the maiden, we must follow that of Antinahuel."
He ceased, reclined his head upon his breast, and waited.