d, and the
blood trickling out of the corners of his mouth."
"Is he dead, Mama Cachama? is he dead?" gasped Escombe, his grievances
all forgotten now, and his sense of pity stirred to its uttermost depths
by the shocking plight of his chief, so graphically painted by the words
of the old Indian woman.
"Nay," answered Cachama, "he still lives, for his chest heaves and he
now and then gasps for breath; but his flight is ended, for the present
at least, and if you would find him with the life still in his body you
must surely hasten."
"But how shall I find him?" demanded Harry. "You must direct me how to
go straight to where he lies; for should it be necessary for us to pick
up his trail and follow that, he would be dead long ere we could reach
him."
"Where is Arima?" demanded Cachama. "Let him come to me."
"I am here," answered the Indian, drawing near to the old woman.
"Then listen attentively, Arima, and mark well what I say," commanded
the Mama. She spoke to him for a full minute or more in the Indian
tongue, of which Escombe comprehended enough to understand that she was
describing what might be termed the bearings of the spot where Butler
lay exhausted and senseless, Arima nodding his head understanding and
murmuring here and there a word of comprehension as she went on. Her
description ended, she paused for a few seconds, then murmured: "It is
enough. Now let me awake, for I am old. I have wandered afar, and the
journey has wearied me."
Whereupon, after an interval of a minute or two, she slowly opened her
eyes, stared about her vacantly for a little, and finally said: "Ah,
yes, I remember! I was to tell you something, Senor. Have you learned
what you desired to know?"
"Yes, thanks," answered Harry, "always provided, of course, that--
that,"--he was about to say--"that your information is reliable"; but
substituted for those somewhat ungracious words--"that Arima can find
the spot which you have described to him."
"Think you that you can find it, Arima?" demanded the old woman.
"Yes, Mama Cachama," answered Arima, "I shall find it without doubt; for
I have listened attentively to all that you have said, and already know
the direction generally, in which to seek it, while the particulars
which you have given me are so explicit that I can scarcely miss the
exact spot."
"That is well," approved Cachama. Then, turning to Escombe, she said:
"And now, Senor, if you will remain with me for
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