"Demonios!" Fray Ambrosio exclaimed, "that is anything but a pleasant prospect; we have no mercy to expect from these villains, who will, on the contrary, find a pleasure in torturing us in every way possible. Hum! the mere thought of falling into their hands makes my flesh creep; I know what the Indians are capable of in torturing, for I have seen them at work often enough."
"Very good; I will not press that point then."
"It would be perfectly useless. You will do better to explain to us the plan you have formed, and which, as you say, can save us."
"Pardon me! I did not offer you any certainty; I merely said that it had some chances of success."
"We are not in a position to quibble about words; let us have your scheme."
"It is this—"
The three men listened with the deepest attention.
"It is evident," Red Cedar went on, "that if we remain together, and try to fly in one direction, we shall be infallibly lost, supposing, as is certain, that our trail is discovered by our pursuers."
"Very well," the monk growled; "go ahead; I do not exactly understand what you want to come at."
"I have, therefore, reflected on this inconvenience, and I have formed the following scheme."