"Shall we start at once, then?" Valentine asked.
"Not yet," replied the Ulmen; "everything is a guide in the desert; if it should happen that we who pursue, should, in our turn, be pursued, your boots would betray us. Take them off, and the Araucano warriors will be blind."
Without making a reply, Valentine took off his boots, and took moccasins.
"Now," said the Parisian, laughing, "I suppose I may as well throw the boots into the river."
"By no means, my brother!" Trangoil-Lanec replied seriously; "the boots must be taken care of."
The two young men had each a leathern knapsack, which they carried on their shoulders, and containing their absolute necessaries. Without a word, they fastened the boots to the knapsack, and buckled it on their shoulders. Curumilla had soon finished his job, and he gave each of them a pair of moccasins, exactly like his own, which he tied on for them.
[CHAPTER XXI.]
DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND.
As soon as the Chilians had evacuated the rock, Antinahuel turned with an air of ill-humour towards General Bustamente.