The captain rejoined the marquis, who was waiting with impatience the result of the interview. "Well," cried he, as soon as Don Diogo had made his appearance. "What I foresaw has happened," answered the Indian. "Which is--" "That these Guaycurus will not, under any pretext, allow us to place our foot on their territory." "Indeed!" "They order us to retrace our steps; they are resolved not to give us a passage." "We shall force one for ourselves by passing over their corpses," haughtily cried the marquis. "I doubt it, your Excellency. No one individually is capable of successfully contending against ten enemies." "Do you, then, think them so numerous?" "I have understated it; it is not ten, but a hundred, that I should have said." "You seek to frighten me, Diogo?" "What use would it be, your Excellency? I know that nothing I could say to you would succeed in persuading you, it would be but wasting precious time." "Then it is you who are afraid," cried the marquis. The Indian, at this undeserved insult, turned pale in the manner of the men of his race; that is to say, his countenance assumed a tint of dull white; his eyes flushed with blood, and a convulsive trembling agitated all his limbs. "What you say not only is not generous, your Excellency," he answered, "but is inappropriate at this moment. Why insult a man who for the last hour has endured uncomplainingly, on the part of your enemy, deadly insults?" "But at all events," resumed Don Roque, in a more gentle voice, "our position is intolerable. We cannot remain here thus; how are we to escape from the difficulty in which we are?" "That, your Excellency, is what I am thinking of. An immediate attack from the Guaycurus is not what concerns me at the present moment. I know their manner of fighting; they must have at the present moment an interest in sparing us--for why? I cannot yet decide, but I shall soon know." "What makes you suppose that?" "The obstinacy with which they try to persuade us to return, instead of assailing us unawares." "What do you intend to do?" "At first, to study the plans of the enemy, my lord, and, if God gives me aid I shall succeed, I swear, in discovering those plans." "Be assured, that if we succeed in defeating their projects, and in escaping from our enemies, the recompense I shall give you will be equivalent to the service you render me." "It is useless to speak of reward to a dead man, and I consider myself so," answered the captain. "Always that thought!" said the young man. "Yes, always, your Excellency, but do not concern yourself. Knowing that I cannot escape the fate which threatens me, I will try all that is humanly possible to postpone the inevitable catastrophe. That ought to reassure you." "Not much," said the marquis with a smile. "Only, your Excellency, I repeat, I want all my liberty of action." "I have given you my word, as a gentleman."