"How do you say 'It is my father,' in Spanish?" he asked.
"Es mio padre," answered the geographer.
Immediately Robert, taking Thalcave's hands, said in a sweet voice,—
"Es mio padre!"
"Suo padre!" replied the Patagonian, whose look brightened.
He took the boy in his arms, lifted him from his horse, and gazed at him with the most curious sympathy. His intelligent countenance became suffused with a peaceful emotion.
But Paganel had not finished his inquiries. Where was this prisoner? What was he doing? When had Thalcave heard of him? All these questions thronged his mind at once. He did not have to wait long for answers, but learnt that the European was a slave of one of the Indian tribes that scour the plains.
"But where was he last?" asked Paganel.
"With the cazique Calfoucoura," answered Thalcave.
"On the line we have been following?"