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Updated: June 9, 2025
While pressing on in pursuit of his escaped captive, little dreams the deposed cacique of the Tovas, either that he has been deposed of his chieftainship or that others are pursuing him. But his pursuers are not now behind him; instead, in front, or, at all events, nearer to the estancia than he.
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?
Short time stays Kaolin and his party by the estancia: for the newly-elected chief of the Tovas is a man of ready resolves and quick action, and soon as his story is told, with that of the others heard in return, he again mounts, and makes ready for the march this time to be directed towards the old tolderia.
There, lying at full length, the gaucho perceives a form, easily recognisable as that of a human being, though swathed in various kinds of cloths, which cover it from head to foot. The body of a man, moreover, as can be told by its size and shape; while beside, and arranged around it, are certain insignia proclaiming it to be that of some distinguished chieftain of the Tovas.
And now the Tovas youths, their naked skins well washed by the shower, and glistening like bronze fresh from the furnace some of them, however, bleeding from the scratches they have received spring upon their feet, re-adjust the jergas on the backs of their horses, and once more remount.
There in the lee of all, better sheltered, he dismounts, flings his arms around the unresisting girl, and sets her afoot upon the ground. He does all this gently, as though he were a friend or brother! For he has not lost hope he may yet win her heart. "Star of my life," he says to her, speaking in the Tovas tongue, which she slightly understands.
Add to this a pair of dark grey eyes, deep sunken in their sockets, for all gleaming brilliantly, and you have the countenance of Shebotha sorceress of the Tovas tribe one of cast as sinister as ever presented itself in a doorway.
And what the Prussian now sees, taken in connection with the abandonment of the village alike matter of mystery leads him to more than half-suspect there has. For again comes up the question, why should the Tovas chief have gone off without giving him warning? So suddenly, and not a word! Surely does it seem as if there has been friendship betrayed, and Naraguana's protection withdrawn.
Above all, are they famed for the "feather-work," or plume embroidery an art peculiarly Indian which, on their first becoming acquainted with it, astonished the rough soldiers of Cortez and Pizarro, as much as it delighted them. To this day is it practised among several of the South American tribes, notably those of the Gran Chaco, while the Tovas particularly excel in it.
But no; those so kept do not even seek or desire it. Long in captivity, they have become "Indianised," lost all aspirations for liberty, and grown contented with their lot; for the Tovas are not hard taskmasters.
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