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His sudden seizure, with the abrupt departure following, accounts for Halberger having had no notice of all this Naraguana having been delirious in his dying moments, and indeed for some time before. And his death has caused changes in the internal affairs of the Tovas tribe, attended with much excitement.
Under the belief, as they all are, that Naraguana is still living, his confidence in the friendship of the aged cacique has throughout remained unshaken.
If so, it will go hard with him, Halberger; for well knows he, that in such a treaty there would be little chance of his being made an object of special amnesty. Instead, one of its essential claims would sure be, the surrendering up himself and his family. But would Naraguana be so base?
"After all, it may bring him into trouble," suggests the more sage of the speakers, adding, "ay, and ourselves as well every one of us." "How that," inquires the other. "Well; you know, if Naraguana had been living, he would never have allowed this." "But Naraguana is not living, and who is to gainsay the will of Aguara?
This agreed to by the elders of the tribe; since they had to be consulted. But without a word said about their late chiefs protege the hunter-naturalist or aught done affecting him. For the Paraguayan soon perceived, that the sagamores would be true to the trust Naraguana had left; in his last coherent words enjoining them to continue protection to the stranger, and hold him, as his, unharmed.
Craning her head inside, and listening for a second or two, she can tell by his breathing that the cacique is asleep. A slumber abruptly broken by her calling out "Son of Naraguana, awake!" "Shebotha!" he exclaims, recognising her shrill treble. "What is it?" he adds, raising his head over the edge of his hamaca. "Arise, Aguara! and make all haste.
For he knows he as done this, and that there will surely be that storm of which the young cacique is apprehensive a very tempest of indignation among the elders and friends of the deceased Naraguana, when they hear of the fate which has befallen the harmless stranger, so long living under their late chiefs protection.
And the daughter of the murdered man has been brought back with them, not as a prisoner, but because it was inconvenient to take her direct to her own home. She can and will be sent thither at the first opportunity which offers. So promises the deceitful son of Naraguana to those of the tribe who would call him to account.
Besides, he stole her away in the night, like a thief, as he is." Naraguana would not tamely have listened to such discourse. Instead, the old chief, loyal to his friendship, would have indignantly repelled the allegations against his friend and protege. As it is, they fall upon the ear of Naraguana's son without his offering either rebuke or protest.
Once more exposed to view, the features deeply-furrowed with age for Naraguana was a very old man and now further shrivelled by the dry winds of the Chaco, with the skin drawn tight over high-cheek bones, and hollow, sightless sockets, where once shone pair of eyes coal-black and keen all this under the pale moonlight, presents a spectacle at once weird-like and ghastly, as if of a death's head itself!
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