human
Keep up heart, mother! says Ludwig, feigning a cheerfulness he far from feels.
gpt
Never alone, she despondingly answers.
human
Never with Francesca. Only when Gaspar was along with him.
gpt
Well, Gaspar's with him now, no doubt; and that'll make all safe. He's sure to have found them. Don't you think so, Cypriano?
human
Oh! yes, mechanically rejoins the cousin, in his heart far from thinking it so, but the reverse.
gpt
Wherever they've gone he'll get upon their tracks; and as Gaspar can follow tracks, be they ever so slight, he'll have no difficulty with those of uncle's horse.
human
He may follow them, says the senora, heaving a sigh,
gpt
Have no fear, _tia_! interrupts the nephew, with alacrity, an idea occurring to him.
human
I think I know what's detaining them--at least, it's very likely.
gpt
What?
human
Well, replies Cypriano, proceeding to explain,
gpt
No, no! murmurs the senora, the gleam of hope departing suddenly as it had sprung up.
human
It cannot be that.
gpt
But it can, and may, persists the youth,
human
The thing I'm speaking of is an ostrich.
gpt
Why an ostrich? your uncle could have no curiosity about that. He sees them every day.
human
True, but it's not every day he can catch them. And it was only yesterday I heard him tell Caspar he wanted one, a cock bird, for some purpose or other, though what, he didn't say. Now, it's likely, almost certain, that while on their way to the _tolderia_, or coming back, he has seen one, given chase to it, leaving Francesca somewhere to wait for him. Well, _tia_, you know what an ostrich is to chase? Now lagging along as if you could easily throw the noose round its neck, then putting on a fresh spurt--'twould tempt any one to keep on after it. Uncle may have got tantalised in that very way, and galloped leagues upon leagues without thinking of it. To get back to Francesca, and then home, would take all the time that's passed yet. So don't let us despair.