The Insurgent Chief

in the cavern, he found himself face to face with Tyro, who, having entered by the opposite gallery, and n

the conversation. However, the situation, already very embarrassing, threatened, if it continued much longer, to become critical. The Frenchman saw t

great joy; "I began to feel uneasy at this s

ered the Indian, giving a cunning glance from under his half-close

fess that I have passe

heard nothing? Has there been no u

ght off through the whole night. I

u tell me. If you did not tell it to me so decidedly,

e, with feigne

e night has been any

ssume; "What has happened, then? You understand that, buried h

ought close by here, between t

serious. And this co

should I be

riend. And who have

patri

! A

n reasons I am very

Tyro? What have I t

proscribed by

me of a fact; but wha

niards are, or at least are

s or conquered, I should not

ent; then he took a step backwar

done to lose your confidence? What have I done t

he blushed; howe

that you address to me, my brave fr

k his head with

e," pursued he, "sin

he was to blame, but who did not believe himself auth

wo glasses and two plates; look, mo

el

ady, these things would not be sufficient to prove to m

at do yo

entered the cavern, that you have given him hospitality, and that at the moment I am speaki

iolently, "since you are so well i

e?" said the Indian,

just told me

I feared that he ha

hat mean? I am quite at

e, master; call this man; all wi

an ill-humoured tone; "Call him yo

rong, for in everything that occurs I sho

ition in which fate constantly places me, an

sure you, Fate, as you call it, has shown rare in

like nothi

permit me,

place? Do what you like

t, and lit a cigar with the most careless air he could affect, although he fe

n indefinable expression, and then, taki

d somewhat trembling voice, "Do not b

trode towards

voice, stopping at the entrance, "you can sh

heard, and the Montonero alm

he advanced briskly towards the Guaraní

"My brave friend, I am

ly answered the Indian; "but fir

my fr

vice I have rendered y

on me, I will d

s gentleman, who is my master, what has pa

prise; "This caballero your master-

d it, or at least tried to ar

, after all," sa

d of what you are saying," interrupted t

Santiago,

ave Indian, to whom I cannot, and do not wish to refuse anything. Two days ago, then, he came to me, at one of my habitual rendezvous that he has long known, and made me promise to come her

throwing away his cigar; "Continue, continue;

account. I have come, then. Unhappily, notwithstanding all the precaut

, Se?or, and I am going to t

like nothi

for my unjust suspicions. I offer it from the bottom of my heart. You know how soured I must be t

me," answered the Guaraní, with emotion. "I only wished

the least doubt o

you,

generally supposed, and when they once are attached to you, you can always reckon on them; no

t is, Se?or; you h

eared so; you kn

now

ubbing his hands; "you will

?or; I intend to c

owever, have much liked to

othing," pursued the Indian, with an accent

that; let us return to our business; I am

dian s

iago?" said he; "The evil has been

That is

that tonight twenty-five horsemen will arrive here, where we shall conceal them, wh

to meet my friends? That would simplify matters very much, it appears to me. I do not expect to be a second time defeated, as

red the Indian, "but you forget that I

are at this moment; excuse me, I beg, and b

u know should quit San Miguel; tomorrow would be too late. You must go immediately and resume your disguise, and repair to

painter, "But how shall I

the gate of the convent a guide will aw

that

e me, m

all right then," s

not a mome

my nap?" asked

specially as I shall return in time to

. Good for

ammock, while Tyro aided his master to comple

llery through which Tyro had entered, leav

e very bank of the river, and was so completely concealed, that unless

the land, at a few pa

t, made his master enter it, stepped into it himself, an

y this means I can put you down at a few pa

n of assent, and they

very rapid, very much shortened the journey that they had to make, but it also had the advantage of free

on the sand of the bank; they h

murmured Tyro, p

he knew he was looked for as a criminal, and tracked as a wild beast, t

terprise that many others in his place would have considered as mad,

could to aid them; and, notwithstanding the natural apprehension which he felt as to t

early. Under his disguise, he was well armed; and, moreover, his course was decided on; the Rubicon was passed; he could not go back. He threw an inquiring look around h

the river, the st

und him, took the side of the street opposite to that of the convent. Then, having arrived be

y have placed someone in concealmen

till further bracing up his resolution, he

e was preparing to k

he gate shut imme

I in the mousetrap; wha

o him-stood before him. Without uttering a word,

g corridors and the cloisters, and at last reach

to give him entrance, and when he had gone in, sh

n the chamber; this p

bowed respec

hing him, "what has happened? Spea

he, "is, that if these ladies still ha

the superior, with, joy,

sed; tomorrow, as I am assured,

aid she, with a sigh; "So you

uffer myself to be killed to defend t

it is, in fact, more than w

se ladies as soon as possible; I do not n

are now finishing their preparations

freely within these thick walls. You know, Madame, that you have offered me the means of facilit

ourself; what I ha

Madame; permit me on

, caba

haps I was deceived-that the person who acted as

u will now have nothing to fear from the indiscretions of that nun; her post is oc

ung ma

a door opened, and

ognising these two persons, enveloped in thick mantles, and their heads covered with

a step backward, and instinctivel

unknown, letting fall the lappet of h

enchman, recognisi

hazardous adventure which we undertake t

if there be no unforeseen complications, I think I

herself timidly and tre

adame," pursued the young man, "o

mediately!" crie

aid the superi

tted the

ughter each carried a ligh

f her masculine costume-had a pair of pistols in her gird

ted; a death-like silenc

fear," said the superi

horses?" asked

Emile; "it would have been imprudent

," answered t

ill wal

of providing them. Carried away by the rapidity with which events had occurred since the arrival of Tyro in the cavern, he had left everything to

re memory than I! I could not, however, admit this unpardonable fo

onvent. The superior, after having cast a searching look through the grating, to assure herself t

t you!" said she; "I have h

s. As to the young girl, she threw herself into

erior; and pushing them gently,

t, and, enveloping themselves carefully in their

e take?" asked

ing to the right-that is to

t he took this direction? A littl

ed by four men, was waitin

le immediately recognised Tyro; "Here

his companions enter the barque, a

he oars were shipped, and th

gave a sigh

y discovered; only, as he had not thought of acquainting his master with his plans, he feared that the latter might have arranged to traverse the streets. He had therefore grounded the barque in such a

of always persecuting the young man-had consented

as great-and especially to the breadth of the river, the barque keepin

time they did not meet any other boat than their own, except an Indian pir

ts course was too rapid, for it to be supposed

ved at the entran

the barque was r

let us add that, for greater safety, the Indian had told them nothing about their destination. The third was a domestic of the painter's-a

respectfully helped the two ladies to land,

"enter this cavern, where w

dies o

" asked t

hing to do, master,"

Emile, but he took no notice of it, convinced that the Guaraní must ha