Rocky Ford enterprise., 1901-12-06
CHAPTER XNV.
Namampa Meets a Man.

uated. There was this pecuiiariy
about this horseman: He had neither
saddle, blanket nor bridle. sitting
awkwardly upon the bare back OF
clumsy little horse. he elung To It's
name. and prodding 1t constantly with
stick TO accelerate its pace. ne jogsed
along rs a sailor on horseback always
jogs.
Suddenly the horseman bent his
head and looked eagerly In the near
distance. He saw a man afoot making
toward the north with neither rapid
nor steady steps.
Drawing nearer to the lonely foot
traveller the horSemnn's eye III up. FOR
he had recognized the face.
Hang me II that isn't old Namam-
pa, the herb doctor" he said. Il saw
his wI=ened old face at Lola's funeral
and l never could forget IT," Then
shouting In Spanish: ''Ahoy there.
Namampa. Whittier bound?"
Th. carib-for II was really he
looked askance at the staiwart fellow
who had thus addressed him. and
seemed about to quicken his pace. But
II occurred TO him that. whether on
foot or mounted. the younger man was
more than n match for him In speed. so
he paused. rs II hesita,Ins.
~ do not know you. seIor." he said.
You have called my name. but many
know the hcEb-doetor of the caribs
whose faces arc not remembered by
me-
We'll. your face Is. remembered by
me we'll enough" was the reply. NO
man who once saw IL could easily for
get II. Not that IL Is so wonderfully
beautiful either"
The thin. withcrcd lips OF Namampa
cracked into n smile.
'Namampaiso old" he said. 'Hc IL no
longer good TO look upon. Bu, as the
outward beauty passes away with age.
then eoiics the full development OF the
sou,A,hr brain. No. Namampa is no
longer young nor handsome. bu, he
knows many thlnss.'
"a false estimate OF your knowledge.
old man." said the horHcman. I've
heard I; said that an Indian charm
doctor. iy his arts and hnmbugs. can
make his tribe believe he ih great
medicine man. but that he could In
pose on men who call themselves intel
iiEent wia n surprise TO me"
Was surprise to your repeated
the CaTie. stung with curiosity 10 know
who the stranger was. and resentment
tha, his own skill should bo so bciit-
tied. What do you mcau7 VINO arc
you that you do not believe In Nam
amra's saill7''
We'll. as to that replied the horse
man. "my name Is Tempest. and am
one OF those Americans that are not
oycr-mueh loved by his Royal High
ncss Philip the Fraud. I've Just taken
a eantcr cross country for my health.
and now I'm returning to the coroai
Valley to look M my friends. What
mean by doubting your skill Is this: A
girl was lSiuk III in the Castle of Sal
yarcz. and you. OF all the people this
side OF the orinoco. were chosen as the
wiscst msdicinc-mau and the mos,
likely to pull her through. Did you do
III No. You mumblcd your prayers
and charmed the men who were well.
but failed to affect the riri who was
III. That's sore point with me. old
Carib: not that loved the Girl herself.
but loved her lover. and when she
died his heart was broke and the light
went out OF his life. That was the re-
suit of your failure. Carib. I've n
mind TO cut your lying tongue out with
this beautiful knife I stole from the
fellow who calls himself king"
Namampa jinglcd the gold he had
received from Mattazudo. and looked
calmly and contomplatiyely at Temp
est. as IL considering some weighty
question.
American" he said. "the skill of
Namampa is for him who pays the
best. I knew nothing Of your friend.
Il was Philip. whom they call king.
who wished to marry the girl. but
Philip offered no gold. There was an
other who
"Confound yorl' exclaimed Tempest.
lcaping TO the ground and springing
upon the Carib. DO you mean to say
you took the gold Of Gomez to murder
Lola Cara "
As Jack relaxed his grip. the Indian
whispered:
tell you something"
Tempest took the Indian by the hair
and raised him to his feet.
Tell on he said; "and unless you
tell something tnat plcasos me better
than what you have told already you
might better be saying your prayers -
Listen. them the Carib began.
"It is true l was called to the sick
senorlta. gave her the powder /
make from the bark OF the cinchona
tree. She got well. But suddenly she
seemed to die. 1t was not that gave
her the drug. | knew nothing of 1t.
She was buried. You must have been
there. for you say you saw my face at
her funeral. 1t is true. / was there /
have lived long. seror. and | know the
faces of inen. You saw Philip weep