The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1907-08-03
CHAPTER Ill.

You Will soon DO so, my TREND, said
Valentine How long have you been
roaming about?
"Nearly two months"
ain that case you are we'll acquainted,
I presume with these mountans?"
'There is not a tree or rock whose
exact position / cannot tell, nor a wild
beast trail which have not followed"
"Good are we far from a spot called
the Fort of the Chichimeques p"
81 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"
Il was not aware of the existence OF
this grotto," the hunter Sid, with glad
start, ~and l thank you for having told
me of it. Are we any great distance
from this terraceT
I'm straight line, not more than FIVE
or six miles, and, if it were day, could
show it TO you, but as we must ride round
30 reach the caravan road, we have about
three hours ride before u.s."
. ''That is a trihe, for / was afraid I
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.
IT'S a magnificent night" the hunter
said. ut is past midnight, and feel no
inclination to sleep. Are you fatigued?"
Il am never So" the Tigrero answered
with smile.
In that case, what do you think of a
ride in this magnificent moonlight?
Bravo that is what call speaking. We
will go, if you have no objection, as far
as the Fort of the Chichmequcs."
Il was about to propose it and, as We
ride along, you win tell me in your turn
what motive compelled you to come to
these unknown regions"
''As for that" the hunter said, with a
smile, II cannot satisfy you; at any rate
not for the present. But be easy, will
not put Your patience to too long trial."
This happy meeting has already made
n different man of me- the Tigrcro said,
as he rose.
The hunter laid his hand on his shout
der. zone 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 IRON his
belt. Here is my navajo, brother: may
it serve you as it has done me to avenge
your wrongs and mine"
II receive it in the face of that heaven
which ! call as witness OF the purity of
my intentions. Take mine in exchange,
and one-half my powder and bullets,
brother"
Il accept it as a thing belonging to
me, and here is half my ammunition for
you: hencefcrth 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 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, l
take as my friend and brother the man
whose hand is at this moment pressing
mine. / will help him in everything he
asks of me, without hope of reward. ready
by day and night to answer his first sig
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
roonbeams, 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.
snow 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, | must warn you,
brother, that il 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 / have an
appointment and win introduce them to
you"
They set out again, still following the
windings Of The track. which gradually
grew sleeper pad. after very zigzag
course, reached the terrace half an hour
later.
"This is certainly the place." the hunt
err exclaimed.
'But your friends?" the Tigrero
asked.
The hunter without speaking discharged
his gun, and al the sound three men APP
pcared, though it was impossible to say
whence they came. They were Belhumeur
Black Elk and Eagehead.
CHAPTER w.
About five or six leagues at the most
from the spot where Valentine and the
Tigrero met, caravan. composed of some