th, "you are in luck this time.
I think I may call it luck, for your antagonist has surely some in his
quiver not quite so harmless as this one.

"Let me see," he added; and, stepping up to the Navajo, he drew another
arrow from the quiver that still remained slung upon the Indian's back.
After subjecting the blade to a similar test, he exclaimed--

"I told you so. Look at this, green as a plantain! He fired two: where
is the other? Comrades, help me to find it. Such a tell-tale as that
must not be left behind us."

Several of the men leaped from their horses, and searched for the shaft
that had been shot first. I pointed out the direction and probable
distance as near as I could, and in a few moments it was picked up.

El Sol took it, and poured a few drops of his liquid on the blade. It
turned green like the other.

"You may thank your saints, Monsieur Haller," said the Coco, "it was not
this one made that hole in your arm, else it would have taken all the
skill of Doctor Reichter and myself to have saved you. But what's this?
Another wound! Ha! He touched you as he made his right point. Let me
look at it."

"I think it is only a scratch."

"This is a strange climate, Monsieur Haller. I have seen scratches
become mortal wounds when not sufficiently valued. Luna! Some cotton,
sis! I shall endeavour to dress yours so that you need not fear that
result. You deserve that much at my hands. But for you, sir, he would
have escaped me."

"But for you, sir, he would have killed me."

"Well," replied the Coco, with a smile, "it is possible you would not
have come off so well. Your weapon played you false. It is hardly just
to expect a man to parry a lance-point with a clubbed rifle, though it
was beautifully done. I do not wonder that you pulled trigger in the
second joust. I intended doing so myself, had the lasso failed me
again. But we are in luck both ways. You must sling this arm for a day
or two. Luna! that scarf of yours."

"No!" said I, as the girl proceeded to unfasten a beautiful scarf which
she wore around her waist; "you shall not: I will find something else."

"Here, mister; if this will do," interposed the young trapper Garey,
"you are heartily welcome to it."

As Garey said this, he pulled a coloured handkerchief out of the breast
of his hunting-shirt, and held it forth.

"You are very kind; thank you!" I replied, although I knew on whose
account the kerchief was given; "yo