Equally long formalities preceded his departure, and our Tano had in this manner, between reception, residence, and leave-taking, spent more than a year at the Rito de los Frijoles.

During that time he had acquired a knowledge of the Queres language, and spoke it therefore not fluently, but still intelligibly.
As Shotaye had appeared excited and agitated as long as she felt helpless in matters of speech, so now she became free, easy, and above all, calm and clear in her utterances, when she could make herself understood.

The Tano began to question her in a methodical, and even in an argumentative manner.

He spoke slowly and brokenly; but she understood him, and he comprehended fully her replies, for they were given to the same categoric way.

Each of her sentences he translated into Tehua, turning to the tuyo at the end of every one of her answers.
Shotaye told him everything, with the exception of the matter of the owl's feathers, for these would have been as dangerous among the Tehuas as among the Queres.