The Insurgent Chief

f a greyish tint, which gave to the landscape- picturesque and varied as it was in the Llano de Manso, where our narrative recommences-a sad and desolate appearanc

in of low hills, covered with a yellowish grass, dried up by the burning rays of the sun, and un

histles. Only on an elevated shore of this stream, called the Rio Bermejo, and which is an affluent of the Parana, there was a thick wood, a kind of oasis, planted by the

partridges and turtledoves rapidly flew to the shelter of the trees; here and there vicu?as and viscachas were bo

d appearance, it would seem to have remained as it had come from the

he Jesuits, thrown back into barbarism-is in some respects a neutral territory, where all the tribes, by a tacit understanding, had their rendezvous for hunting. It is incessantly traversed in all directions by warriors belonging to tribes the most hostile to

the Indians, continually beaten back by civilisation-feeling the importance of preserving this territory for themselves-defended its ap

rs have not been afraid to visit the llano, and to traverse it at their risk and pe

its charming name of Rincón del Bosquecillo, out of gratitude, no doubt, for the freshness they have fou

mmenced to utter their hoarse and mournful growlings as they sought their drinking places; the jaguars bounded out of their dens with dull cries of anger, lashing with their powerf

le and gold, a troop of horsemen appeared on the right bank of the Rio Bermejo, proceeding apparently towards

nd which circled their heads, and especially by the matchless grace with which they man

any tuft of ostrich feathers or streamers at the point of their lances-which s

n by the vulture's feather placed in their red bands, and whose ex

f leather from horse's legs. Their arms-laco bolas, lance and knives-were

masculine and decided expression. This beard, added to the dull white of the skin of the young man, would have made him pass easily for a white man, if he had worn a European costume. However, let us hasten to state that among the Indians men are often met with whose skin is completely white, and who appear to belong to the Caucasian

he warriors by whom he was at this moment followed. He was named Gueyma, and notwith

le and vigorous; his teeth, of which not one was missing, were brilliantly white, rendered more striking by the dark hue of his complexion, although, like the other chief, he had neither tattoo nor painting; but, in default of physical signs of old age, the expression of severity on his fine and intelligent countenance, his emphatic

ho, by their complexion and their clothin

d, if not as completely free, at least with a certain considera

hearty expression. They galloped in the midst of the Indian warriors without appearing to concern themselves in any way as to the place whithe

s happens in all intertropical countries, which have no twilight-at the moment when the Indians were ascen

ll in the form of a splendid cascade into the Rio Bermejo, from a height Of forty or fifty feet-the young Gueyma chief stopped his horse, le

d themselves with securing the horses, giving them provender, lig

arms, and were stationed on the outskirts of the g

heat of the day, had, with a sigh of relief, heard the order of the chief, and had

ur or five, ate with a good appetite the simple provisions placed before them-consisting for the most part of yams, baked under ashes, of the meal of manioc, and of meat dried in th

ed to a forced fast-a prospect all the more disagreeable for them, as they were literally dying with hunger, not having had the opportunity, since the previous evening, of taking any other refreshment than a little brandy, diluted with water, a regimen quite insufficient for them, but to which they had resolutely submitted, rather than exhibit their di

who at least know one another but little, the first few minutes were emba

d themselves on the grass, and attacked the provisions set before them, at first with a certain forbe

of good humour, "I am happy, gentlemen,

ers, laughing, "poor or not, chief, it co

twenty-four hours since we have ea

e chief; "We would immediately have given ord

; but it neither suited our dignity nor our

," murmured Gueyma, speaking rath

the remark, to which

f propriety amongst men who not only respect themselves, but also

, as you call us, know nothing of those subtle distinctions that you are

the more happy that it is

s so futile a point with you. Let us quit this subje

ked his gourd, he pres

the gourd, looked in as

"For what motive, chief? Have I not

veral times s

d to be in the company o

question

r drink that liquid which the whites name ardent spirits, and which makes them stupid; the water from the sprin

chief; I had no intent

paleface says," answered the old chie

considerate action on my part had disturbed the good understanding which ought to exist bet

led up some tobacco in palm leaves, and were s

at the paleface wishes to

chance has brought me among you, I a

he chief, smil

skins, they were represented as men quite savage, fierce, faithless-entirely sunk in the most horri

at does the pal

self, and who, in all circumstances, act with a prudence and wisdom, and a circumspection which I have often regretted I have not met with in my own countrymen. That is what I have seen among you up to the present time, chie

ged a stealthy look, and the elder r

es themselves Cavalheiros. The Guaycurus are masters of the desert; who would dare to resist them? When many winters shall have blanched the hair of my son, and he shall have

ficer bowed

curus are the most civil

he chief, with pride; "the Great

peak our language with perfection-a perfection which you warriors are fa

paleface was born. At that time the chief visited the great villages of the whites; for several moons he even lived amongst them as if he had formed part of their fami

he more delighted at the sympathy which you say you have for my countrymen, as in the circumstances in which we are

it may

the place where the interview is to take place? I confess th

rus captains, to the chiefs of the palefaces. The interview of which he speak

the place called by the Spaniar

is h

and now, chief, accept again my thanks. I am going, with your permission, to take a few ho

od for young men," answered the

nder the awning prepared for them,

mained, facin

tched before the fires, slep

bronze statues, their eyes open to the surrounding

the desert; the night was

ively at his companion, and then, a

r nation; "Is he communing with his heart? Do his thoughts recall the pleasant memory of Dove's E

ast an uncertain look, in which a spark glowe

e's eye is ever present in Gueyma's soul: she need not be called up to shine even more. The result of the conference that will take place tom

h these words; he frowned his brow and answered

t still torment

ith some animation; "Until the C

that, that my so

as a child; and because the warriors of my nation sadly turn the

did promise that to my son, but he gav

s good, and will be tolerant toward a young man and pardon

the example of patience for all. It will seal his mouth better, if I don't disclose the secret; to learn that when he

and moved, the old chief wrapped his poncho around hi

let his head sink to his chest, overwhelmed by sleep. He lay down beside his fellow tribesmen. Soon there were no more