"The Guaycurus warriors are not weak women," answered Diogo; "a journey of a few hours on horseback takes nothing from their vigour." "My brother has well spoken; what he says is true. My ears are open; the words of Tarou Niom always rejoice the heart of his friend." "Tarou Niom is prudent," answered Diogo; "he knows that the Pai dogs now tread the sacred earth of the Guaycurus and the Payagoas. Treason has come with them." Then, removing from his girdle, where he had placed it, the knife that the chief had sent by him, he presented it to the Payagoas. "Here," said he, "is the keaio of Tarou Niom. Does the captain, Emavidi Chaime, recognise it?" The chief took it in his hands, considered it for an instant with attention, and, replacing it on the table-- "I recognise it," said he; "my brother can speak." Diogo bowed as a sign of acknowledgment, passed the knife again into his girdle, and answered-- "Here are the words of Tarou Niom; they are graven in the heart of the Grand Sarigue. Tarou Niom reminds the captain of the Payagoas of his promise; he asks him if he has really the intention to keep it?" "Yes, I will keep the promise made to my brother, the captain of the Guaycurus. This very day the grand council will assemble, and tomorrow the war canoes will ascend the river; I myself will direct them." "What, then, does my brother mean?" said Diogo; "I do not understand him. Does he not say that the war canoes will ascend the river?" "I have, indeed, said so," answered the chief. "For what reason will my brother take that direction?" "Why, to aid, as has been agreed between us, Tarou Niom, to conquer the Pai dogs." "Listen to the words of the chief; the Pai are surrounded by my warriors; flight is impossible for them; already discouraged and half dying with hunger, in two or three suns at the latest they will fall into my hands, if my brother remember his promise." "Well?" interrupted the chief. "Other enemies more serious," imperturbably continued Diogo, "threaten us at this moment." "Is that true, then, which, this very morning, one of my scouts told me?" cried the chief. "It is, unhappily, but too true," coolly answered Diogo. "It is especially with the design of assuring you of that news, and of taking with you the necessary dispositions--that is to say," said he, with a gracious smile, "to concert only measures of safety that it may suit you to adopt in the general interest, and to report them immediately to Tarou Niom, in order that he may efficiently support you, that he has sent me to his brother." "So the whites are entering in all directions?" "Yes." "The captain, Joachim Terraira, has then really set out from Villa Bella?" "There cannot be the least doubt of that," boldly answered Diogo. "And Tarou Niom," pursued the chief, "thinks that I ought to dispute the passage of the Pai?" "Six thousand warriors will join those of the Payagoas chief."