“I wish I knew her to be with Say Koitza now,” Zashue sighed.

“Shotaye is dead,” his brother asserted.  “But I believe that this rag is from our people, and you were right in coming hither.  Look!” pointing to the entrance of the Bocas, “they came through there and from the west.  Even if we find no trace of them I still believe that they went to Hashyuko and that we shall find them there.  Let us go ere it is too late!”

The last words were uttered in such a positive tone that Zashue yielded, and followed his brother, who since their discovery again moved with vigorous strides.  Since the last evening neither of them had eaten anything, and their meal then had been scanty enough.  The discovery had infused new strength into their exhausted bodies, and the brothers walked on, side by side, as if they were well fed and thoroughly rested.  Zashue still remained in doubt; he would rather have made further researches.  He knew from the talk of old men that the Tanos inhabited villages farther south, and it was possible that the fugitives, afraid of the dispositions of the Puyatye that lived closer to the Tehuas, had avoided them in order to take refuge at a greater distance from the people of the Puye.  But above all, Zashue felt strong misgivings in regard to the reception which he and his brother, both armed as they were, might find at Hashyuko.

Under different circumstances he would have gone to the Tanos without any fear, and would have entered the village as a guest.  Now, since the Queres of the Rito and the Tehuas had come to blows, it was possible that the latter had informed their relatives in the southeast of what occurred and thus made them suspicious of the Queres.  He and his brother carried the implements of war, but they were not in war-paint.  That looked very suspicious, and they might be taken for spies; and as soon as they should be noticed some of the Tanos might lie in wait for them with evil intentions.  If on the other hand Hayoue was right, then all would be right.  But he could not agree with his brother on that point.  A certain instinct told him that the fugitives had wandered south instead of east.  Nevertheless he yielded willingly to the superior energy and determination of Hayoue.  Zashue was a weak man, and glad to lean upon a stronger arm, a more determined will.

Hayoue on his part was fully convinced of the correctness of his views.  He had no thought of danger.  He reflected, and Zashue had overlooked this important point, that, in case the Tehuas notified the Tanos of recent occurrences, they would not fail to boast of their signal triumph, and to represent the defeat of the Queres as akin to complete destruction.  Therefore in what light could he and his brother appear to the people of Hashyuko than as fugitives from a tribe well nigh exterminated?  Fugitives of that class are always, even by savages, received and treated as guests.  Finally, should it come to blows, Hayoue was ready for them also, to give as well as take.