IT is certainly true that no man knows what the future holds for him. When I, Jack Hildreth, newly graduated from college, won the consent of my uncle and second father, whose namesake and heir I was, to go West to see life, I little dreamed of the experience that lay before me. I had gone as a civil engineer to survey for a railroad that was to run through the lands of the Apaches, in the mountains of Arizona and New Mexico. The greatest chief of all the Apache tribes was Intschu-Tschuna, and he and his son Winnetou had defeated the attempted unjust invasion of their rights, had slain all my comrades, except the three scouts who accompanied us, and it was only by showing that courage and skill which the red man so profoundly admires that I succeeded in convincing the Indians that I was trustworthy, and saving myself and the scouts, Sam Hawkins, Dick Stone, and Will Parker, from death by torture. But once having accepted me, there was no reservation in

their love for me. I had been made a full son of Intschu-Tschuna, and a brother of Winnetou by drinking the blood of that true knight of the plains, as he had drunk mine, and our kinship and brotherhood was not one in name merely, but in very truth and deed, for I had come to love and admire the high-minded, brave young Indian as I have never before or since loved another friend, and his love for me was equally strong.

A whole winter had passed since the morning in late autumn when the Apaches burst upon us and put an end to the work on which we were sent. It had been a winter of the greatest interest, passed as it was in closest intimacy with Intschu-Tschuna, Winnetou, and his beautiful young sister Nscho-Tschi, the Fair Day, who, when I first came among the Apaches, and was still under sentence of death as a traitor and a thief of their lands, had been my gentle nurse through a long and dangerous fever.

Winnetou had not only taught me the Apache tongue, but also all that skill in hunt and warfare which has been the Indian's inheritance for countless generations, and of which he was a master. Intschu-Tschuna made me wise in the lore of his people, and the sweet Fair Day showed me that a loving daughter and sister, a true-hearted and gentle maiden, was to the red Indian, as to the white, his most precious possession.

But the pleasantest life must end, the sunniest days pass. When the spring came I told Intschu-Tschuna that I must go back to my home in the distant East, though I would return later to my new and faithful friends. The chief's face grew sad at these tidings, but he said: "Intschu-Tschuna feared that his white son would go to the sea in the rising sun, even as the rivers

flow toward it when the winter is past. Will you stay with those pale-faces who would have built the railroad?"

"No."

"That is right. You have become a brother of the red man, and ought not have any share in further attempts on his lands and property. But where you wish to go you cannot live by the chase as you can here. Winnetou has told me that you would have had money had we not come upon you and stopped your work, and he has asked me to make this up to you. The red men know the places where gold is found; they need only take it away. Do you wish me to get some for you?"

Others in my place might have said yes eagerly, and received nothing, but I saw the peculiar keenness of his eyes as they watched me, and answered, "I thank you. There is no satisfaction in riches that a man gets without effort; only that for which he has labored and struggled possesses value."

His gaze softened; he gave me his hand, and said heartily: "Your words tell me that we are not deceived in you. The golden dust for which the white gold hunters strive is a deadly dust. It destroys those who find it. Never seek it, for it kills not only the body but the soul. I wanted to try you. I would not have given you gold, but you shall receive money, the very money on which you counted."

"That is not possible."

"It is possible, for I will it so. We will go back to where you were working. You shall continue your work, and thus receive the reward promised you for doing it."

I looked at him amazed and speechless. Could he be

jesting? No; such a thing would be impossible to the dignity of an Indian chief. Or was it another test?

"My young white brother says nothing," continued the chief." Is my offer not acceptable to him?"

"On the contrary, more acceptable than I can say, but I cannot believe that you are in earnest."

"Why not?"

"Am I to understand that I am to complete the work for which my white comrades were punished with death? that I am to do that for which you rebuked me so sternly when we first met?"

"You acted then without the permission of the owners of the land, but now you shall receive this permission. The offer is not mine, but Winnetou's. He says it will not harm us if you complete the interrupted work."

"That is a mistake. The road will be built; the white men will certainly come."

He looked gloomily before him, and after a short pause said: "You are right. We cannot prevent our selves being robbed again and yet again. First they send a little band, such as yours was, which we could overcome. But that counts as nothing, for later they will come in crowds, before which we must retreat, or be destroyed. But neither can you alter this. Or do you mean that they will not come if you do not finish your measuring?"

"No, I do not mean that, for do what we will, the fire steed will come through all this region."

"Then accept my offer. It will help you, and can do us no harm. I have talked with Winnetou. We will ride with you, he and I, and thirty braves, which will be enough to protect your labor, and can help you.

Then we will take these braves as far East as is necessary to find safe paths, and we will go by the steam canoe to St. Louis."

"What is my red brother saying? Do I understand him aright? He will go East?"

"Yes; I and Winnetou, and Nscho-Tschi."

"Nscho-Tschi also?"

"My daughter also. She would be glad to see the great dwelling places of the pale-faces, and stay among them till she has become like a white squaw."

I must have looked amazed at this news, for the chief added smilingly: "My young white brother seems to be astonished. If he has any objection to our accompanying him let him say so frankly."

"Any objection! How could I have any? On the contrary it delights me. Under your protection I should be safe, and that alone would be a great deal, but, above all, I should still have with me those who are so dear to me."

"How," he assented, quite satisfied." Then you shall finish your work, and we will go Eastward. Can Nscho-Tschi find people with whom she can live, and who will teach her?"

"Yes; I will gladly make that my care. She shall go to a house where there are none but good ladies who pray to the Great Spirit, and teach the young maidens of the pale-faces."

"Good. And when will my young white brother be ready?"

"Whenever it pleases you."

"Then we will go at once. Winnetou has already arranged for this, and my young white son need feel no care."

We were to start in two days, yet the peaceful life in the pueblo was not disturbed; even Nscho-Tschi served us at meal-time as calmly as usual. What a fuss her white sisters make over a small excursion, yet this Indian girl, with a long, dangerous ride before her, and all the customs of civilization to learn, showed no trace of excitement in her manner.

At last came the morning of the departure. We made short work of breakfast, for the ceremony of consulting the medicine-man as to the success of the journey was to be performed. All the men, women and children of the pueblo came out to take part in this ceremony, which was not unlike the Greeks consulting the oracle, or the Romans reading the auguries. A sort of sanctuary hung with blankets was prepared for the medicine-man, and behind this he retired, and a circle of Apaches formed around him. Then he began a kind of growling and snarling, like dogs and cats beginning a fight, the growling occasionally broken by a howl, which sank into softer tones. The howl meant that the medicine-man had seen something bad in the future; the softer notes announced something good. After this had continued some time, the medicine-man burst forth from his improvised temple, and ran round the circle shrieking like a madman. This performance was followed by a dance, slow and grotesque, made more so by the fact that he wore a horrible mask, and had all sorts of curious and ugly objects hung over his body, and the dance was accompanied by an intoned song. Both song and dance were violent at first, becoming quieter by degrees, till at last the medicine-man seated himself, his head between his knees, and remained silent and motionless for a long time. At last he sprang up, and an-

nounced the result of his inquiry." Hear, hear, ye sons and daughters of the Apaches! This is what Manitou, the great good Spirit has revealed to me. Intschu-Tschuna and Winnetou the Apache chiefs, and Old Shatterhand, who has become our white chief, will ride to the dwelling place of the pale-faces. The good Manitou will protect them. They will go through many adventures without harm, and will come back to us safely. Nscho-Tschi too, who will stay longer among the palefaces, will come back to us safely, and there is but one of them whom we shall never see again."

He paused, and his head was bowed as if to show his grief over this last announcement.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh," cried the Indians, curious to hear more, yet not daring to ask. But as the medicine-man remained bowed down and silent, little Sam Hawkins, my true friend and faithful comrade, lost patience and cried: "Who is it that will not return? Let the man of medicine tell us."

For a long time there was no reply; then the medicine man raised his head slowly, looked at me, and said: "It were better not to have asked. But since Sam Hawkins, the curious pale-face, has forced me to say it, I will tell you it is Old Shatterhand who will never return. Death will seize him in a short time. They who would come back safely must not stay near him, for they who are near him shall be in danger, and they who are at a distance from him shall be safe. How!"

Now Old Shatterhand was the name that had been given to me, because of the reputation my strong hands had earned in knocking down any one who attacked me. Intschu-Tschuna and Winnetou glanced at each other as they heard these words. One could not say

whether or not they believed them, but they knew the fatal effect of the words on those men whom they had picked out to protect us. If they believed it dangerous to be near me the safety of the entire party would be imperiled. Intschu-Tschuna took both my hands, and speaking very loud so that every one could hear, reminded his people that the medicine-man had sometimes made mistakes in his prophecies, and that only time could show whether he had spoken truly in this instance. Scarcely were his last words uttered than Sam Hawkins stepped forth and said: "No, we need not leave it to time. There is a means by which we can discover at once whether the medicine-man has announced the truth. Not only the red men, but the white have their medicine-men who can read the future, and I, Sam Hawkins, am the most renowned among them."

"Ugh, ugh," cried the Apaches amazed.

"Yes, you wonder at that. Heretofore you have considered me an ordinary trapper, because you did not know me. But you shall find out that I know more than my prayers. Let some of my red brothers dig a small, but deep hole in the earth with their tomahawks."

"Would my white brother look into the middle of the earth?" asked Intschu-Tschuna.

"Yes; for the future lies hidden in the bosom of the earth and in the stars, and since I cannot read the stars in broad daylight, I must turn to the earth for that which I wish to know."

Some of the Indians had at once complied with his request, and were digging a hole with their tomahawks.

"Don't try any humbug, Sam," I whispered." If

the Indians see through your nonsense it will make matters worse."

"Humbug! Nonsense!" he retorted. "What are the medicine-man's practices but humbug and nonsense? What he can and dare do, I can and dare do also, my cautious young professor. I know what I'm about. If nothing is done to reassure them we shan't be able to do anything with the men who go with us.

"I know that, but I beg you not to do anything ridiculous."

"Oh, it's solemn, perfectly solemn; don't you worry."

In spite of his assurance I felt considerable anxiety; I knew him too well. He was a born joker, and forever up to some trick, but I had no chance to say more, for he walked away to tell the Indians how deep to make the hole. When everything was ready, Sam took off his old leather hunting jacket, rolled it up, and set it over the hole like a cylinder, where the stiff old coat stood up as if made of wood.

"Now," said Sam to his audience, "the men, women, and children of the Apaches shall see what I do, and wonder at it. When I have spoken my magic words the earth shall open her bosom to me, and I will see what is to happen to us during our journey." With this he went back a few paces, approached the hole with slow and solemn steps, to my horror repeating the multiplication table from the ones up to the nines, but he did so too rapidly for the Indians to catch what he said. When he got to the end of the table of nines, he broke into a gallop, sprang up to the coat with a loud howl, waving his arms like a windmill. I looked around to see what the Indians thought of this performance, and

to my great relief saw that they all looked perfectly serious; even the two chiefs betrayed no doubt in their faces, though I was sure that Intschu-Tschuna knew right well what Sam was up to.

Sam kept his head down in the coat a good five minutes, moving his arms the while as if he saw marvelous things. At last he raised his head, showing a face solemn to the last degree, shook out his coat, and drew it on again, saying: "My red brothers may fill in the hole again. While it is open I can say nothing." This was done, and Sam drew a deep breath, as if he felt deeply impressed, and said: "Our red brother has seen wrong, for exactly the contrary of what he said is to happen. I have seen all that is to come to pass in the coming week, but it is forbidden me to repeat it all. I have heard shots, and seen a struggle. The last shot came from Old Shatterhand's bear-killer, and he who fires the last shot cannot have died, but must be the victor. My red brothers can be safe only by keeping close to Old Shatterhand. If they obey their medicine-man they are lost. I have spoken. How!"

The consequences of this prophecy were exactly what Sam had anticipated, at least for the time. The Indians evidently believed him, and as the medicine-man did not come forth to oppose Sam's statement he was considered vanquished, and Sam the true prophet. Winnetou's eyes rested on Sam, who had come chuckling over to me, with a silent, but very expressive look, while his father said: "My white brother is a wise man; he has taken the force from the words of our medicine-man, and he has a coat full of wise sayings. This precious coat will be honored from one big water to the other. But Sam Hawkins should not have gone so far. It was

enough to say that Old Shatterhand would bring us no evil; why did he prophesy anything bad?"

"Because I saw it in the hole."

Intschu-Tschuna made a gesture dismissing this statement, and said: "Intschu-Tschuna knows the truth; Sam Hawkins can be sure of that. It was not necessary to make our people anxious by speaking of bad things to come. Let us go."

The horses were brought, and we mounted, and rode slowly away from the pueblo village, Intschu-Tschuna, Winnetou, his sister and I ahead, Sam Hawkins, Parker and Stone following, and behind them the thirty braves leading the pack horses. Nscho-Tschi sat astride her horse like a man. She was a remarkably daring and accomplished rider, as I knew already, and as she proved anew on this journey, and she could handle weapons equally well. Any one meeting us would have taken her for the younger brother of Winnetou, the likeness between them being heightened by her masculine garments; but they only brought out more clearly her remarkable beauty. She was so radiant, so happy, so girlish, in spite of the knife and pistol in her belt, and the gun across her shoulders that all eyes turned on her admiringly. Poor, beautiful Fair Day!

After five days we reached the spot where we had been working when taken prisoners by the Apaches, and the rest of the party was cut down in the struggle. Here I resumed my work, guarded by the Apache braves, and helped by Winnetou and Nscho-Tschi, who scarcely left my side. It was very different from the circumstances under which I had labored before, with a band of drinking, unprincipled adventurers for companions. Now I was with friends, and I was profoundly touched by the

generous proof of affection they gave me in allowing me to finish a work begun in dishonesty to them, now that they were convinced that I had no part in the wrong intended them, and that the completion of the work would be to my advantage. No brother could have been more lovingly watchful of my welfare than my brother, the Apache, and his father helped me in every way in his power, but it was Nscho-Tschi who anticipated my every wish, seeming to read my thoughts, and no desire of mine was too trivial for her to take infinite pains to gratify. Every day increased the grateful affection I felt for her, which I could only show by teaching her all that she was so eager to learn. Dear, bright, devoted little sister! Sweet Fair Day, so soon to set!

At the end of the eighth day I had finished; the instruments were repacked, and we resumed our journey Eastward over the same route I had traveled in coming West under the guidance of Sam Hawkins. It was the second day after we had set out on our long ride that we saw four white men coming toward us. They were dressed like cowboys, armed with guns, knives and revolvers. When they had come within twenty feet of us they reined up, took their guns in their hands as a precautionary measure, and called to us: "Good day, gentlemen. Must we keep our fingers on our triggers or not?"

"Good day," replied Sam."Put up your shooting irons; we've no desire to eat you. May we ask where you came from?"

"From old father Mississippi."

"We're going the way you came; is it open?"

"Yes, as far as we know, but any way you needn't

fear with a party of your size. Or aren't the red men going all the way?"

"Only this warrior here, with his daughter and son; they are Intschu-Tschuna and Winnetou, the Apache chiefs."

"You don't say so! A red belle going to St. Louis? May we ask your names?"

"Why not? We're not ashamed of them. These are my comrades Dick Stone and Will Parker, and this is Old Shatterhand, a boy who has stabbed the grizzly with his knife, and knocks down the strongest men with his fist. I am Sam Hawkins. And you?"

"I am called Santer," said the leader, and after a few more questions they rode on.

Then Winnetou said to Sam: "Why has my brother told these strangers so much about us? I do not trust the politeness of that pale-face. He was polite only because we were eight times as many as they. I am not pleased that you should have told them who we were."

"Why? Do you think it can do any harm?"

"Yes."

"In what way?"

"In many ways. The man who spoke to you has bad eyes; I must know what he does. My brothers may go slowly forward, and I will go back with Old Shatterhand to follow these pale-faces, and see whether they really went on, or only pretended to do so."

Accordingly Winnetou and I turned back upon our way, and followed the strangers. I confess the man Santer had struck me exactly as he had Winnetou.

"Does my brother see," said the young chief when we were out of hearing of the others, "that if these men were thieves they would know we had gold with

us? Sam Hawkins was so imprudent as to say we were chiefs on our way to St. Louis, and they need know no more. For such a journey gold is necessary, yet if they attacked us today they would find none, but tomorrow we shall get all that we require, and there was no use in bringing more than we could use. To-morrow we will go to the place where it is hidden, and bring away enough for our journey."

"Is the place where you get gold on our way?"

"Yes, it is in a mountain called Nugget-tsil, or gold mountain, though it has another name in the mouths of those who do not know that gold is there."

I was amazed to hear this. Think of these men knowing where gold was hidden in such quantities, and yet living a life of such hardship and danger!

By this time we had followed Santer far enough on his course to feel sure that he had no intention of turning back. We reined up, and watched their retreating figures till they looked like flies on the horizon, then turned our horses to rejoin our party.

"Come," said Winnetou, "they intend no evil, and we can rest secure."

Neither he nor I guessed with what a cunning wretch we had to deal, who realizing he would be watched, had ridden so far to throw us off our guard.

We returned to our camp, and the chief, and Nscho-Tschi, feeling perfectly secure, little dreaming that the strangers in turn were following us, with death in their hearts and hands.