human
One of us must become an Indian.
gpt
Become an Indian! exclaims Ludwig.
human
What mean you by that, Gaspar?
gpt
I mean counterfeit a redskin; get disguised as one, and so steal into their town.
human
Ah! now, I understand. But that will be a dangerous thing to do, Gaspar. If caught--
gpt
Of course it will be dangerous, interrupts the gaucho.
human
If caught, whoever of us it be, would no doubt get his skull crushed in by a _macana_, or maybe his body burnt over a slow fire. But as you see everything's dangerous for us now, one may as well risk that danger as any other. As to counterfeiting an Indian, I propose taking the part myself; and I should be able to play it pretty well, having, as you both know, had some experience in that line. It was by a trick of the same sort I got off from the Guaycurus when I was their prisoner up the Pilcomayo; and if I hadn't done it neatly, you shouldn't now see me here.
gpt
How did you manage it?
human
Well, I borrowed the costume of an ugly savage, who was set to keep guard over me, having first taken a loan of his hardwood club. The club I returned to him, in a way he wouldn't have wished had he been awake. But he was silly enough to go to sleep, and was sleeping when I took it--ah! and slept on after I returned it--ever after. His dress I kept, and wore for more than a week--in short, till I got back to Paraguay, for I was over a week on the road. It fitted me well; so well, that with some colouring stuff I found in the fellow's pouch, I was able to paint Indian, pass among the tents of the Guaycurus, and through a crowd of the savages themselves, without one of them suspecting the trick. In that way I slipped out of their camp and off. So, by something of the same I may be able to get the dear little _nina_ out of this town of the Tovas.
gpt
Oh! do it, Gaspar! exclaims Cypriano;
human
Yes! all we both have, adds Ludwig;
gpt
returns the gaucho, in a tone of reproach at being thus bargained with; gentle, however, as he knows it is from their anxiety about Francesca.
human
Why, _hijos mios_, what are you speaking of? Promises to me,--a bribe for but doing my duty! 'Twill be a far day before Gaspar Mendez will need that for service done to either friend or relative of his dear dead master--ay, to the laying down of my life. _Carramba_! are we not all embarked in the same boat, to swim or sink together? But we sha'n't sink yet; not one of us. No; we shall swim out of this sea of troubles, and triumphantly. Cease despairing, then; for after all there mayn't be so much danger. Though Naraguana be dead, there's one above him, above all, up there in Heaven, who will not forsake us in this our extremity. Let us kneel and pray to Him.