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Updated: June 10, 2025
Still it is the face of Naraguana, as at a glance the gaucho perceives, muttering, "Yes; it's the old chief, sure enough. Dead, and dried up like a mummy! Died of old age, no doubt. Well," he continues, in graver tone, "by whatever way he may have come to his end, no greater misfortune could have befallen us. Carrai! it's Satan's own luck!"
All this is new light to Ludwig, and turns his thoughts into the same channel of suspicion where those of Cypriano have been already running. Still, whatever he may think of Naraguana's son, he cannot bring himself to believe that Naraguana has been guilty. His father's friend, and hitherto their protector! "It cannot be!" he exclaims; "surely it cannot be!"
No; we shall swim out of this sea of troubles, and triumphantly. Cease despairing, then; for after all there mayn't be so much danger. Though Naraguana be dead, there's one above him, above all, up there in Heaven, who will not forsake us in this our extremity. Let us kneel and pray to Him."
Of these the most serious has been the death of Naraguana himself. For the aged cacique is no more; having died only a few days after his latest visit paid to his palefaced protege. Nor were his last moments spent at the tolderia, now abandoned.
"Quite sure," is the confident rejoinder; "more than once I've observed Aguara's free behaviour towards my cousin; and once would have thrashed the impudent redskin, but for uncle interfering. He was afraid it might get us into trouble with Naraguana." "But did father himself know of it? I mean about Aguara and Francesca?" "No. I rather think not. And I disliked telling him."
The gaucho had expressed a belief, that from something he remembered, they would not have much further to go before arriving at their journey's end. "Why did you say that?" now questions the young Paraguayan. "Because I've heard the old cacique, Naraguana, speak of a place where they buried their dead.
Not only did Naraguana give him a warm welcome but assistance in the erection of his dwelling; afterwards stocking his estancia with horses and cattle caught on the surrounding plains. These tamed and domesticated, with their progeny, are what anyone would have seen in his corrals in the year 1836, at the time the action of our tale commences.
Naraguana wished the white man to have fixed his residence nearer to him, but the naturalist knew that would not answer. Less than two leagues from an Indian encampment, and still more if a permanent dwelling-place, which this tolderia is, would make the pursuit of his calling something more than precarious.
Reasoning thus, Ludwig counsels their riding straight on to the Indian town, and trusting to the good heart of Naraguana throwing themselves upon his generosity, Cypriano is equally eager to reach the place, where he supposes his dear cousin Francesca to be pining as a prisoner; but holds a very different opinion about the prudence of the step, and less believes in the goodness of Naraguana.
To solve the seeming enigma of Rufino Valdez travelling in the company of the Tovas Indians, and on friendly terms with their young chief for he is so it will be necessary to turn back upon time, and give some further account of the vaqueano himself, and his villainous master; as also to tell why Naraguana and his people abandoned their old place of abode, with other events and circumstances succeeding.
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