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And if you act it cleverly, as I know you can and will, we'll make breakfast on something better than beans. Now, senorito; you're in costume to go garzoneando." Long ere this, Cypriano has come to comprehend what is required of him, and is quite eager to have a try at the ruse so cunningly contrived.
It is plainly impossible for them to cross over there; and, without waiting to reflect further, the gaucho so pronounces it; saying to the others, who have remained silently watching him: "Well, we've got over a good many streams in our morning's ride, but this one beats us. We can't set foot on the other side not here, at all events." "Why?" demands Cypriano.
He fears, half expecting it to be, "In the toldo of the cacique." It is a relief to him, when Nacena, pointing towards the dark object bound to the scaffold-post, says: "She has charge of the paleface captive." "Bueno!" ejaculates Gaspar with delight in his eyes, as in those of Cypriano. "Nothing could be better than that.
"Then you have such certainty now?" interrogates Cypriano, a gleam of hope irradiating his countenance. For the figurative words lead him to believe that the gaucho has not yet revealed the whole of his scheme. "Of course I have," is Gaspar's rejoinder. "If I hadn't we might as well give everything up, and take the back-track home again.
It is Cypriano who speaks, impatiently adding, "Remember, our time is precious." "True, master," gravely responds the gaucho; "but however precious it is, we may soon have to employ it otherwise than in taking up a trail. If this tree tells truth, we'll have enough on our hands to take care of ourselves, without thinking of Indians." "What mean you?" both interrogated together.
"Well," replies Cypriano, proceeding to explain, "you know how uncle takes it, when he comes across a new object of natural history, or anything in the way of a curiosity. It makes him forget everything else, and everybody too. Suppose while riding over the campo he chanced upon something of that sort, and stayed to secure it? It may have been too big to be easily brought home."
We won't do that, while there's a chance left for taking the muchachita along with us." "Never!" exclaims Cypriano, with determined emphasis. "If I have to go into their town myself, and die in it, I'll do that rather than return without my cousin."
Though not wilder, nor half so thrilling, as that which enraptures the ear of Cypriano to whose arms she is on the instant after transferred. But it is not a time for embraces, however affectionate, nor words to be wasted in congratulation. So Gaspar tells them, while urging instant departure from that perilous spot.
Cypriano, flinging himself from his saddle, picks the necklace up, and holds it out for examination. It is in no way injured, the string still unbroken, and has no doubt dropped to the ground by the clasp coming undone. But there are no traces of a struggle having taken place, nor sign that any halt had been made on that spot.
"Quite right, Senor Cypriano," interposes Gaspar; "but that isn't the worst of it." Both turn their eyes upon him, wondering what worse he can allude to. Cypriano interrogates: "Is it some new danger, Gaspar?" "Not exactly a danger, but almost as bad; a likelihood of our being again delayed." "But how?"
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