te
manner. You must be patient, however, and wait till you come across
either a priest or a Protestant clergyman."

"Doggoned ef I care which," is the rejoinder of the giant. "Eyther'll
do; an' one o' 'em 'ud be more nor surficient, ef 't war left ter Walt
Wilder. But, hark'ee, Frank!" he continues, his face assuming an astute
expression, "I'd like to be sure 'bout the thing now--that is, to get
the gurl's way o' thinking on 't. Fact is, I've made up my mind to be
sure, so as thar may be no slips or back kicks."

"Sure, how?"

"By procurin' her promise; getting betrothed, as they call it."

"There can be no harm in that. Certainly not."

"Wal, I'm gled you think so; for I've sot my traps for the thing, an'
baited 'em too. Thet air's part o' my reezun for askin' ye out hyar.
She's gin me the promise o' a meetin' 'mong these cotton woods, an' may
kum at any minnit. Soon's she does, I'm agoin' to perpose to her; an' I
want to do it in reg'lar, straightforrard way. As I can't palaver
Spanish, an' you kin, I know'd ye wudn't mind transleetin' atween us.
Ye won't, will ye?"

"I shall do that with the greatest pleasure, if you wish it. But don't
you think, Walt, you might learn what you want to know without any
interpreter? Conchita may not like my interference in an affair of such
a delicate nature. Love's language is said to be universal, and by it
you should understand one another."

"So fur's thet's consarned, I reck'n we do. But she, bein' a Mexikin,
may hev queery ideas about it; an' I want her promise guv in tarms from
which thar'll be no takin' the back track; same's I meen to give myen."

"All right, old fellow. I'll see you get such a promise, or none."

"Thet's satisfactory, Frank. Now, as this chile air agoin' to put the
thing stiff an' strong, do you transleet it in the same sort."

"Trust me, it shall be done--_verbatim et literatim_."

"Thet's the way!" joyfully exclaims Walt; thinking that the _verbatim et
literatim_--of the meaning of which he has not the slightest
conception--will be just the thing to clinch his bargain with Conchita.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The singular contract between the prairie merchant and his _ci-devant_
guide has just reached conclusion as a rustling is heard among the
branches of the cottonwoods, accompanied by a soft footstep.

Looking around, they see Conchita threading her way through the grove.
Her s