"And I have accepted it, my lord. The war we are now commencing has nothing in common with those which, they tell me, you are accustomed to make in Europe. We have in face of us enemies whose principal weapon is trickery; it is only then by showing ourselves more keen and more subtle than they, that we shall succeed in conquering them, if it is possible for us--which I do not believe--to obtain that result." "Once for all, I promise to give you the most perfect liberty, strange and singular as appear to me the dispositions you judge it necessary to take." "That is speaking like a wise man; courage! Who knows? Perhaps God may deign to work a miracle." "I thank you for at last giving me a ray of hope, Diogo," said the marquis, "as it is not a commodity of which you are a prodigal." "We are men, to whom it is necessary to speak frankly, to put ourselves on our guard, my lord, and not timid children, whom it is necessary to deceive. Now," he added, "if you have no objection, we must encamp for the night." "What! Stop already!" cried the young man. "What a pity!" cried the Indian, "That this expedition should be doomed to end so badly! I could have given you some lessons, my lord, which would have made you, in time, one of the most skilful trappers of the Brazilian woods." Notwithstanding the critical situation in which he was, the marquis could not forbear laughing at this outburst of the worthy captain. "Never mind," answered he, "do not deprive me of your lessons. Perhaps they will be of use." "With the favour of God, my lord; listen to me, then. This is what we ought to do." "I am all attention." "We ought not to penetrate any farther into the desert before having some positive information as to the movement of our enemies. This information I alone can obtain, by mixing with them and introducing myself into their villages. Do you understand me, my lord?" "Pretty well; one thing alone in what you have told me remains doubtful." "What is it?" "You intend yourself to go and seek news." "Just so; such is my intention." "Do you not think that will be very imprudent? You risk being discovered." "True, and if that should happen, my fate is decided. What would you, my lord? There is a risk to run, but by no other means of acting. However perilous such an expedition may be, it is not so much so as you may suppose, for a man who, like me, belongs to the Indian race and naturally knows the habits of the men he wishes to deceive." While the marquis and the captain thus talked together, the caravan continued to advance slowly through the inextricable meanderings of a narrow path, traced with difficulty by the passage of wild beasts. Silence the most complete reigned in the desert, which the foot of man appeared never to have trodden since the time of its discovery.