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In either case ha! what's that. As I live, a white man riding alongside Aguara! Who can he be?" Up to this, Halberger has neither touched his horse nor stirred a step; no more she, both keeping to the spot they had chosen for observation. And both now alike eagerly scan the face of the man, supposed to be white.
Armed with this confidence, his old enmity to Halberger and gaucho, ripe and keen as ever, Valdez declared himself willing to risk his life by paying a visit to the Tovas town, and, if possible, induce these Indians to enter into a new treaty one of its terms to be their surrendering up the white man, who had been so long the guest of their deceased cacique.
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?
The young Tovas chief sits upon his horse with heart audibly beating. He has no doubt cannot have as to who were the pursued ones; no more, that they have been overtaken. But with what result? Has the vaqueano killed both father and daughter? Or were the shots fired by Halberger, killing Valdez himself and the two who went with him?
For nigh ten years Halberger lived happily with his youthful esposa; all the happier that in due time a son and daughter the former resembling himself, the latter a very image of her mother enlivened their home with sweet infantine prattle.
But I must make haste. For what if Halberger have recognised me? I don't think he did or could; 'twas too dark. If he have, what ay, what? Of course they'll know that wasn't likely to be the last of it, and that there's something more to come.
For she is Francesca Halberger. At the hour spoken of she is the sole occupant of the hut; its owner, Shebotha, being abroad. For it is the self-same hour and instant when the sorceress has the rosary of teeth snatched so rudely from her neck.
For in the Chaco are various communities of Indians, often at deadly feud with one another. Though such conjecture seems improbable, the thing is yet possible; and to assure himself, Halberger at length resolves upon going over to the tolderia of the Tovas. Ordering his horse saddled, he mounts, and is about to ride off alone, when a sweet voice salutes him, saying:
On other occasions there had been intervals of absence as long, and even longer, when the men of the tribe were away from their tolderia, on some foraging or hunting expedition. Nor would Halberger have thought anything of it; but for the understanding between him and the Tovas chief, in regard to the transport of his collections. Naraguana had never before failed in any promise made to him.
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.
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