anxious about you," he continued. "Confident of your
courage and hardihood, they would not believe that you were lost; and
they urged me to make a circuit to the south, in the possibility of
coming on your trail. Glad I am to have fallen in with you, for I had
almost given you up as lost. Right heartily will our aged friend
rejoice that you have been found."

I thanked Manilick warmly for the interest he had taken in me, and
inquired whether the waggons had turned back or continued their course
westward, and whether they had been overtaken. He replied that Samson
had discovered their trail, but, in his search for me, he had lost so
much time, that he had not yet been able to come up with them.

As the party had several spare horses, Pablo and I were at once provided
with steeds. We then pushed on at a quick rate, Manilick observing that
he wished to reach the camp of a friend the following day.

I inquired who the friend was.

"Kepenau," he answered. "He has, with his whole tribe, moved westward,
under my protection. He has buried the hatchet with all mankind, and
has induced me to follow his example, provided we are not attacked; for
should we be, even he allows that it is both lawful and right to defend
ourselves. The good preacher, Martin Godfrey, has accompanied him, for
the purpose of instructing his people and mine; and he afterwards
intends to visit the Palefaces settled in other parts of the country."

"And has his daughter accompanied him?" I asked, looking at the young
chief.

"Yes," he answered, with a smile; "and she is shortly to become my wife,
as she is satisfied that I am now a believer in the same faith she has
long held. I bless the day, too, when she won me over, though I had not
before supposed it possible that I could abandon the religion of my
forefathers."

I told Manilick how glad I was to hear this, and wished him every
happiness.

We encamped that night in a wood near a stream, which we reached just
before dark. The same precautions were taken against surprise which our
small band had considered necessary; for, Manilick told me, should the
Apaches discover his trail, they would be certain to attack him.

"However," he observed, "we have hitherto been preserved by the Great
Spirit, and we have no fear of the result of a fight."

"Then you cannot be said altogether to have buried the hatchet," I
observed.

"We have resolved to attack no one, and the sin will lie with thos