The Insurgent Chief

ng the convent, had struck him with a

however unfortunate himself, he felt himself constrained to aid and succour by all means

nd himself called on to play unawares in this sombre and mysterious affair, the whole of which, n

t matte

uch aggravate that situation; whereas, if he succeeded in enabling them to escape the fate which threatened them, while he saved himself, he would bring to bear on his persecutor

ck also his careless gaiety, and it was with a quick and deliberate step that he

ants, that, unless the exact position of this grotto were known, it was impossible to discover it-so much the more, as its mouth opened onto the river, and that to enter it, it was necessary to go into the w

cked up his trousers, went into the water, and entered the grotto-not, however, wit

, "A singular fashion this of coming int

answered the Indian, with

me resume my clothes, and then we

also, m

he, looki

rst change y

t," resumed

on his disguise, and soon he had

garette. "I can tell you that this disgusting costume annoys me horribly

e soon, I ho

have not deceived ourselves! Now, what h

ou not told me

me. I believe it is more important than what I have to tell

owing away his cigarette, which began to burn his fingers; then, half t

brave?"

, caused such a profound surprise to th

he added, with a slight smile. "Besides, my good Tyro, bravery is in France so co

are brave, master; and so am I, I believe; I have seen

tion?" said the painter, w

ced, and when we wish to bring it to a good conclusion, it is necessary to calculate all the chances. You are a Fre

" interrupted

f you are brave, I do not doubt your courage I have seen you act courageously-only I wish to know if this courage i

courage of which you speak. I can simply, and in all confidence, assure you of this-that day or night, alone or in company, in default of bravery, pride would always prev

us, and I shall be happy to know that you will not abandon me in th

wered the painter; "so, banish all af

end. Now, let us leave that, and com

painter; "what is th

master, on how

et me kn

rs, whom they were going to try tomo

painter, with astonish

o hours ago, mounted on horses of the Pampas, and gal

-I am delighted at it, for, as matters go

ot certainly," said the

nd they have placed me, by their fault, in a rather difficult position, I should have been so

I have se

God grant that they

hat this flight ma

" cried he,

indirectly implicat

ar now, and that the suspicions which had been ex

however, if I may give you ad

ought which possesses you, and which you wish me to share. Respect, or some

Spanish officers has awakened suspicions which were but suppressed; and now they accuse you of having

le! I have not once seen

owever, it is as I sa

s extremely delicate; I

stice they may design to do us. Since I have occupied myself with preparations for your journey, I have communicated with several men of my tribe, engaged in the families of certain persons in the town, in order to be informed of

"what relation there is between this flight

owed you and entered the town. The news of the flight of the officers was already known -everybody was talking of it. I mix

nothing of t

em to accuse you-so much the more as you have an enemy determined on

he young man, astound

smiled, sar

useless to occupy ourselves with him at this moment

an shook hi

lly lost this time; all that I might do would but has

moments with an astonishment tha

last, "to ask you at the commencement o

g man, suddenly collecting himself

ned impassive, and it was with the same calm voice

he sabre or the gun in hand-especially here, where, without reckoning men, we are constantly obliged to str

tand you," answe

equal-reserving yourself, while you feign flight, to take your revenge later. Your enemies have an immense advantage over you; they know you; they therefore act against you with certa

to me in enigmas. Who are these enemies whom I do not

, master; but have patience-a day

. Unhappily, I am up to my neck in a trap,

l answer for all. You will esc

pears to me v

as he slightly shru

elf; "in appearance their conformation is the same as our own, and, neverth

ng to explain to you, and which, moreover, you would not understand; let us return to what ought solely to occupy us just now. I r

med, but this time with a clear and decided voice, like that of a man who desires t

house. They know me; the greater part of the attendants are my friends; they took no heed of me. I was free to go and come as I liked, without attracting attention. I then took advantage of a time when the house was almost deserted on accou

isfaction clouded by slight anxiety; "but wha

aster," answered the Guaraní, wi

a plausible pretext to account

it," said he,

y fortune. I cannot camp out in the open air, more especially as that would avail me nothing, and that those who have an interest in seeking

dian l

is, perhaps, because my affairs go on well, and that y

going to seek some spot where you will be

is not so easy to

in the town tha

hat there is any place in the country

wo miles from here, in a rancho of the Guaraní Indians, I have found an asylum

curiosity. Is everything

, ma

emain here, inste

not yet set, and it is too lig

ave Tyro; I thank you

y done my d

rateful. So that is agreed. I am unhoused. My dear compatriot will be muc

aughed, with

e young man, "this position is very

measures are taken accordingly. My preparations would have been finished already,

putting his hand into his pocket, and drawing from it the pu

with joy, "There is m

e sad, and took the purse agai

se that money, it is not ours; we

at him wit

has been given to me by the person whom I have promised

said the

r appears to me to be quite altered; I should

en; in fact, perhaps you are in a better position today than you were yesterday,

for I begin no longer t

that,

o know my affairs

know, to be useful to you in case of need, and to be in a position to prove to you w

ce it is not even possible to keep my secrets to myself, act as you

gold, master, and

utting the purse in his hand; "only, make haste, for you ou

gone; they are searching for you far away; they thus

ord I have so great a confidence in my own skill, tha

these ladies. They are anxious to be off, and they are right; but they

s there is one thing which mu

s it, m

roduce myself into the

o in the convent in the same dis

that is not ri

aster. Who will care to concer

ave done my duty as a gallant man; my c

l arrangements, and trying to foresee all the chances which migh

covered intelligence in this poor Indian, so simple and so artless in appearance, and the m

o escape from the terrible danger suspended over his head. He frankly owned this, and, putting aside the prejudices of race, he wisely left his servant to act for himself, contenting himself with followi

quitted the grotto, in the recesses of which

ble, but through which he proceeded with a certainty which indicated a complete knowledge of the places which he traversed. The painter, unaccustomed to these n

ere they were to stay was short-it did not

on the summit of a hill. He opened, without otherwise announcing his

or rather appe

ht with his flint and s

ho resembled the exterio

rutinising look round him, "Th

"but the occupants have withdrawn into

! And f

re, they could with a good conscience affirm that that

eople that they are! Well, I see with pleasure that the Jesuits make go

with a pickaxe a slight layer of earth, under which

aster,"

g man, with some hesitation, "

red in the opening left gaping

ung man, "there is

boldly descended into the cave, where Tyro awaited him, the sebo

ed with palm mats to absorb the moisture. All the baggage of

d a hammock, hung in a corner, comple

nd a lamp were pl

, the form of which was n

retreat; your horses have been placed by me in the gallery to the left; they have all they want. In this basket you will find provisions for three days. I do not pledge you as to

table, after having lit the lamp, provisions for the supper, of which the p

ything in order, and to remove all traces of our movemen

aven, remember that I trust entirely to

I return, it will be by the gallery to the right I shall

ill you not keep company

is impossible; I must be

the painter, suppressing a sigh

ter; patience f

e patience you recommend,

ough the opening, and, after having again bidden

und hims

oon, shaking his head several times, he seated himself on the couch,

le appetite. Positively," added he, after a pause, with his mouth full, "when, o

eflection, he carefully

ins dyed an

pot of