For Tyope, although he did not in the least suspect that the Tehuas were forewarned, and still less on the alert so close by the Rito, used every possible precaution in order that the surprise might be complete and the blow as crushing as possible.
It was dark in the timber, and the main body of the Queres approached the brink of the first canon north of the Rito while the advance were cautiously descending into the bottom and the scouts were already farther on.

Tyope and the medicine-man were standing a short distance from the descent of the south side and listening to the news which a runner had just brought in from the front.
"Are you sure you have noticed a man ?" the Chayan asked in a whisper.
"I am sure of it.

He crouched at the foot of a juniper-bush," replied the messenger, positively.
"Has he seen you ?" demanded Tyope.
"I believe not." "When you left was he there still ?" "I could not see any more of him." "How far is it from here?
Where stands the tree ?" the Chayan asked.
"It is on the other side of the ravine, near the border to the left." Tyope pondered a while; then he said to the shaman,-- "Nashtio yaya, I think we should go more toward the east.

What do you say ?" "It is well," muttered the medicine-man.
"Satyumishe," Tyope said to the runner, "go and tell the men to go along the ravine toward the Rio Grande until the trees become smaller.

Thence they may go to the north again, but slowly and carefully.