ible enemy," continued the chief.

"We say something similar among us," muttered Pepe.

The Blackbird now signed to the captive to approach. The latter
advanced, and the chief pointed out to him the little island, and said,
"Can the rifle of the pale-face send a ball into the space between those
bushes?"

But the prisoner had understood only the little Spanish mixed with the
Indian dialect, and he remained mute and trembling. Then the Blackbird
spoke to one of his warriors, who placed in the hands of the prisoner
the rifle that he had taken from him, and by gestures made him
understand what was wanted of him. The unlucky man tried to take aim,
but terror caused him to shake in such a fashion that his rifle was
unsteady in his hands.

"If the Indian has no better way than that to make us speak," said Pepe,
"I will not say a word until to-morrow!"

The white man fired indeed, but the ball, directed by his trembling
hands, fell into the water some distance from the island. The Blackbird
glanced contemptuously at him, and then looked around him.

"Yes," said Pepe; "seek for balls and powder among the lances and
lassoes of your warriors."

But as he finished this consoling reflection, the five men who had gone
away, returned armed for combat, with rifles and quivers full of arrows.
They had been to fetch the arms which they had laid down, in order to
follow the wild horses more freely. Five others now went off.

"This looks bad," said Bois-Rose.

"Shall we attack them while they are but fifteen," said Pepe.

"No, let us remain silent; he still doubts whether we are here."

"As you like."

The Indian chief now took a rifle and advanced again to the bank.

"The hands of the Blackbird do not tremble like a leaf shaken by the
wind," said he, pointing his rifle steadily towards the island. "But
before firing, he will wait while he counts one hundred, for the answer
of the whites who are hidden in the island."

"Get behind me, Fabian," said Bois-Rose.

"No, I stay here," said Fabian, decidedly. "I am younger, and it is my
place to expose myself for you."

"Child! do you not see that my body exceeds yours six inches on every
side, and your remaining in front is but presenting a double mark."

And without shaking a single one of the reeds around the island, he
advanced and knelt before Fabian.

"Let him do it, Fabian," said Pepe. "Never had man a more noble
buckler, than the heart of the giant which bea