Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-09-06
CHAPTER III.

w nat 10 you mean ne asked him.
"I don't understand you."
"You will soon do so, my friend" said
Valentine. "How long have you been
roaming aboutp
NEARLY two-months."
I'm that case you are well acquainted,
/ presume, with these mountains?"
There is not tree or rock whose
exact position 1 cannot tell nor a wild
beast trail which / have not followed"
Good; are we far from spot called
the Fort Of the ChichimequesY
Il know the place to which you refer,
and have often camped there on stormy
nights, because there is a deep cavern.
excavated by human hands, and divided
into several passages, every turning of
which l know"
II was not aware of the existence of
this grotto," the hunter said, with glad
start, "and l thank you for having told
me OF it. Are we any great distance
from this terrace?"
I'm straight line, not more than five
or six miles, and, if it were day, could
show 1t to you, but as we must ride round
to reach the caravan road, we have about
three hours ride before u.s."
That Is a trit1e, for L was afraid /
had lost my way in these mountains,
which are strange to me-"
While saying this, Valentine had risen
to explore the clearing. The storm had
ceased, the wind had swept away the
clouds, the deep blue sky was studded
with brilliant stars, and the moon pro-
fusely shed its rays.
""Tis a magnificent night" the hunter
said. 1T is past midnight, and l feel no
inclination to sleep. Are you fatigued?"
Il am never So" the Tigrero answered
with smile.
I'm that case, what do you think of
ride In this magnificent moonlight?
Bravo! that is what l call speaking. We
will go, II you have no objection, as far
as the Fort of the Chichimeques"
Il was about to propose 1t; and, as we
ride along, you will tell me In your turn
what motive compelled you to come to
these unknown regions"
las for that" the hunter said, with
smile, Il cannot satisfy you; at any rate
not for the present. But be easy, l will
not put your patience to too long a trial"
This happy meeting has already made
a different man of me-" the Tigrero said
as he rose.
The hunter laid his hand on his shoul-
der. "One moment" he said to him; ''be-
fore leaving this bivouac let us clearly
agree as to our>facts, so as to avoid any
future misunderstanding"
BE it so," Don Martial answered.
Let us make a compact in the Indian
fashion"
"Well said, my friend" Valentine re-
marked, as he drew his knife from his
belt. Here is my navajo, brother; may
1t serve you as it has done me to avenge
your wrongs and mine"
81 receive it in the face of that heaven
which l call as witness of the purity of
my intentions. Take mine in exchange,
and one-half my powder and bullets,
brother"
II accept 1t as thing belonging to
me, and here is half my ammunition for
you; henceforth we cannot fire at one
another, all is in common between us.
My horse is yours"
Mine belongs to you, and in a few
moments I will place it at your service"
Then the two men, leaning shoulder to
shoulder, with clasped hands, eyes fixed
on heaven, and outstretched arm, uttered
together the following words:
II take heaven to witness that of my
own free WILL and without reservation,
take as my friend and brother the man
whose hand Is at this moment pressing
mine. l will help him in everything he
asks of me, without hope of reward, ready
hu dau nd nj fo Gro Il
nal without hesitation, and without re-
proach, even if he asked for my life."
There was something grand and solemn
in this simple act, performed by these
two powerful men beneath the pallid
moonbeams, and in the heart of the des-
-ert, alone, far from all human society.
After repeating the words of the oath
they embraced and finally shook hands.
Now let us be off, brother" Valen-
tine said II confide in you as in myself
we shall succeed In triumphing over our
enemies. By the bye, l must warn you,
brother, that If you are not mistaken, and
we are really following the road to the
Fort Of the Chichimeques, we shall prob.
ably meet several persons there they are
friends Of mine, with whom l have an
appointment and will introduce them to
you"
They set out again, still following the
windings of the track, which gradually
grew sleeper; and, after very zigzag
course, reached the terrace half an hour
later.
"This is certainly the place." the hunt.
er exclaimed.
"But your friends-?" the Tigrerc
asked
The hunter without speaking discharged
his gun, and at the sound three men ap
pcared, though 1t was impossible to say
whence they came. They were Belhumeur
Black Elk and Eagle-head.
CHAPTER w.
About five or six leagues at the most