The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1907-09-19
!, THE RED !,
VI IN ARp
!, It II A L. ),
CHAPTER III.


amazement.
What do you mean?" he asked him
Il don't understand YOU"
you will soon do so, my friend" sal,
Valentine. How long have you beer
roaming about"
Nearly two months"
I'm that case you are we'll acquainted
\ presume, with these mountains p
There is not tree or a rock who's.
exact position | cannot tell, nor a wild
beast trail which / have not followed
Good; are we far from spot called
the Fort of the ChichimequesY y
II know the place to which you refer
and have often camped there on stormy
nights, because there is deep cavern
excayated by human hands, and divided
into several passages, every turning OF
which l know"
X 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 a straight line, not more than FIVE
or six miles, and, if it were day. l 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 trihe, for l 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 bri1l;ort Al
fusely shed its rays.
'Tis magnificent night" the hunter
said. 1T is past midnight, and 1 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
tTide in this magnificent moonlight?
Bravo that is what 1 call speaking. We
will go, If you have no objection. as far
as the Fort of the Chichimeques."
Il was abodt to propose it; and, as we
ride along, you will tell me in your turn
what motive compelled you to come to
these unknown regions"
AS 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 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 be drew his knife from his
belt. Here is my navajo, brother; may
Il serve you as it has done me to ayenge
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"
81 accept it rs thing belonging to
me, and here is half my ammunition for
another, all is in common between us. |
My horse is yours" |
Mine belongs to you, and in few |
l will place it at your service"
Then the two men, leaning shoulder to
with clasped hands, eyes fixed |
On heaven, and outstretched arm, uttered
together the following words
81 take heaven to witness that of my
1Tn free will, and without reservation, l
axe as my friend and brother the man
whose hand is at this moment pressing
nine. l will help him in everything he
Lsks of me, without hope Of reward, ready
~ day and night to answer his first sig
lal, without hesitation, and without re-
,roach, even if he asked for. my life"
There was something grand and solemn
n this simple act, performed by these
wo powerful men beneath the pallid
noonbeams, and in the heart of the des-
rt, alone, far from all human society.
after repeating the words of the oath
hey embraced and finally shook hands.
"Now let us be off, brother" Yalen-
inc said; 81 confide in you as in myself
,e shall succeed in triumphing over our
nemies. BY the bye, emust warn you,
rother, that if you are not mistaken and
re are really following the road to the {
'ort of the Chichimeques, we shall prob {
bly meet several persons there; they are
tends of mine, with whom l have an {
ppointment and l will introduce them to l
~"
They set out again, still following the [
findings of the track, which gradually |
rev sleeper; and, after a very zigzag I
purse, reached the terrace half an hour
ter. e
"This is certainly the place." the hunt
exclaimed.
but your friends-T' the Tigrero v
,ked. i
The hunter without speaking discharged S
$ gun. and at the sound three men APP f
AIRED though it was impossible to say g
hence they came. They were Belhumeur, Il
lack Elk and Eagle-head. b
CHAPTER ". 81
About five or six leagues at the most a
ON the spot where Valentine and the a
grero met, caravan composed of some
a persons, had halted on the same night W
d almost at the same moment as the p
inter- in a narrow valley. Il
The "a RI van was lodged on the bank of | II