s child fast as their animals could carry them,
and once at the estancia, make all haste to get away from it, taking
every member of his family along with him. But he has no idea that
anything has happened hostile to him or his, nor does he as yet see the
troop of travellers, whose merry voices are making the woods ring around
them: for, on the moment of his first hearing them, they were at a good
distance, and are some considerable time before coming in sight. At
first, he had no thought of retreating, nor making any effort to place
himself and his child in concealment. And for two reasons: one, because
ever since taking up his abode in the Chaco, under the protection of
Naraguana, he has enjoyed perfect security, as also the consciousness of
it. Therefore, why should he be alarmed now? As a second reason for
his not feeling so, an encounter with men, in the mood of those to whom
he is listening, could hardly be deemed dangerous. It may be but the
Tovas chief and his people, on return to the town they had abandoned;
and, in all likelihood, it is they. So, for a time, thinks he.

But, again, it may not be; and if any other Indians--if a band of
Anguite, or Guaycurus, both at enmity with the Tovas--then would they be
also enemies to him, and his position one of great peril. And now once
more reflecting on the sudden, as unexplained, disappearance of the
latter from their old place of residence--to say the least, a matter of
much mystery--bethinking himself, also, that he is quite _twenty_ miles
from his estancia, and for any chances of retreat, or shifts for safety,
worse off than if he were alone, he at length, and very naturally, feels
an apprehension stealing over him. Indeed, not stealing, nor coming
upon him slowly, but fast gathering, and in full force. At all events,
as he knows nothing of who or what the people approaching may be, it is
an encounter that should, if possible, be avoided. Prudence so
counsels, and it is but a question how this can best be done. Will they
turn heads round, and go galloping back? Or ride in among the bushes,
and there remain under cover till the Indians have passed? If these
should prove to be Tovas, they could discover themselves and join them;
if not, then take the chances of travelling behind them, and getting
back home unobserved.

The former course he is most inclined to; but glancing up the bank, for
he is still on the water's edge, he sees that the sloping path h