A wild uproar broke out in the southwest but no messenger came with evil tidings.

The Queres maintained themselves.

All was well.
The engagement had lasted two hours already, and it might continue in this way for hours more without coming to a crisis in the mean time.
Tyope would creep up to the women and children of the Tehuas.

In case the rear-guard should be ultimately destroyed by the enemy it mattered little, for by capturing the non-combatants the Queres still remained masters of the situation.

Tyope was explaining all this to the Hishtanyi Chayan; and the two, in consequence of their conversation, had remained behind the foremost skirmish-line.