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Updated: April 30, 2025
As the hag, however, has surely succeeded in getting off, and it would be idle to attempt pursuing through the thick scrub, his anathemas hurled after her are all in vain: and, at thought of this, he soon ceases to pronounce them. For the reflection quick follows, that he and his companions have now something else to think about their own safety, doubly endangered by Shebotha's escape.
"You cannot take her out of the toldo," rejoins the man in a tone of dogged denial. "You must not; Shebotha would kill me if I permitted it." "But I have Shebotha's command to do so." "How am I to know that?" "You forget what I have said, and what I've given you."
On returning past the spot where he had struck down Shebotha's slave, he sees the unfortunate man stretched along the ground, and, to all appearance, still insensible. Nought cares he for that, but his horse does; and, at sight of the prostrate form, the animal, with a snort of affright, shies to one side, and strikes off in a new direction.
And now that confidence is established between her and her captors, she gives them a full account of how things stand in the tolderia, and the place where the captive is confined. Having heard which, Gaspar counsels her how to act, as a last word, saying "Tell this white man, who has charge of the nina, he need no longer be a prisoner himself, nor Shebotha's slave.
Clearer rings the "tramp tramp," as nearer the horseman approaches. Coming up behind, from the direction of the town, who can it be but one in pursuit of them? And if a pursuer, what other than Aguara? Still Nacena is in doubt, and deems it strange. As they stole away from Shebotha's hut, and through the straggling suburb of the tolderia, all was darkness and silence, everybody seeming asleep.
Turning their eyes that way, they see ascending what appears to be a human figure, but stooped forward so as more to resemble a creature crawling on all fours. At the same instant the Indian girl has caught sight of it; and standing poised on the platform's edge, she silently awaits its approach, knowing the bent form to be Shebotha's.
All I say is, that the thing isn't at all likely. Mam Shebotha's not the sort to trust her affairs to such a chiquitita as you." "You know me, don't you?" "Oh, yes; you are Kaolin's sister her they call the belle of the tribe; your name's Nacena." "It is so; and surely you'll believe me? The sister of Kaolin would not speak false. You cannot suppose I am deceiving you?"
Again the gaucho ejaculates, "Bueno!" adding, in sotto voce, to his two companions, "It seems better still; a bit of rare good luck; that is, if this white man, whoever he be, isn't grown Indianised, as I've known some to be." Then to the girl. "Shebotha's slave, you say? In that case, he should be wanting to regain his liberty, and we may give him the chance.
"Oh! do not say that! I thought no one knew of it but " "But everybody," interrupts the unfeeling hag. "And what if they do? Nacena is beautiful, the belle of our tribe, and need fear no rival; not even her with the eyes of blue, and the tresses of gold, who sleeps under Shebotha's roof. Nacena is jealous of the paleface captive; she has no cause."
Though the dialogue between Nacena and Shebotha's slave was in the Tovas tongue, she who has overheard them inside the hut has sufficient acquaintance with it to make out that the Indian girl is seeking an interview with herself. But for what purpose, she has not the most distant idea, and cannot conceive why it should specially be sought at that strange hour, when everybody else is abed.
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