WHEN I grasped the fact that Santer actually stood before me I wanted to close my eyes, and let him think I was still unconscious, but my lids would not fall. I stared at him, unable to take my eyes away, till he saw it, and sprang up, crying joyfully: "He's alive; he's alive!"

He asked me a question, and as I did not answer it, he knelt down, seized me by the nape of the neck, and shook me, striking my head hard on the stones. I could not defend myself, for I was fastened so that I could not move a finger. Then he growled: "Will you answer now, you dog? I see that you can, and if you don't, I'll make you." As he shook me I had seen Winnetou lying at one side, fastened together in the form of a ring. Such a position would torture an India-rubber man; what must he be enduring?

I saw besides Santer, only Wharton, his son and nephew; Davis had disappeared. "Now will you speak?" demanded Santer threateningly, "or shall I loose your tongue with my knife? I will know whether you know me, and hear what I say?"

What use was silence? It could only make matters worse. I really did not know whether I could speak or not, but I tried, and in a weak voice said: "I know you; you are Santer."

"So you do know me," he stammered, mocking me.

"Are you very glad to see me? Are you perfectly enchanted to find me here? It's a glorious, delicious surprise for you, now isn't it?"

I did not answer this malicious question, and he drew his knife, set its point at my heart, and threatened: "Will you say yes, a loud yes, this moment, or shall I stab you?"

Then Winnetou spoke in spite of his pain: "My brother Shatterhand will not say yes; he will rather let himself be stabbed."

"Silence, dog," growled Santer. "If you say another word I will draw you up till your bones break. Now, Old Shatterhand, you friend whom I love with all my heart and soul, aren't you really overjoyed to see me?"

"Yes," I answered loudly, in spite of Winnetou's warning.

"You hear that?" asked Santer triumphantly of the other three. "Old Shatterhand, the famous, invincible Old Shatterhand, is so afraid of my knife that he says with his feeble tongue he is glad to see me."

Whether my previous condition had been less serious than it seemed, or whether this man's jeers effected a change in me, I do not know, but my head all at once felt as sound as ever, and I said, laughing in his face in my turn: "You are mistaken; I did not say that from fear, but because it is the truth. I really am glad that at last I see you again."

Though I laughed, I spoke so earnestly that he stepped back, elevated his brows, looked at me a moment searchingly, and then said: "That blow has shaken up your brains so that you are delirious. I might almost think the fellow meant that!"

"And so I do, entirely."

"Then you certainly are crazy."

"Not a bit of it; my head was never clearer."

"Then it's sheer, cursed impudence, and I'll draw you up like your friend, and hang you upside down till your veins burst."

"Nonsense! That's likely! In ten minutes I'd be dead, and you couldn't find out what you want to know."

I saw I had hit the mark. He glanced at the others, and said: "We thought this scoundrel was dead, when he was not even unconscious. He has heard all the questions I asked this cursed redskin, who won't speak."

"You're mistaken," I said. "I was unconscious, but Old Shatterhand has brains enough to see through you."

"Is that so? Then tell me what it is I want of you."

"Bosh; drop that child's play. You won't find out anything. I tell you I am really glad of this meeting. We have looked for you long; we can't help being glad. We have you at last, at last, at last."

"Don't be a fool; you are completely in our power; nothing can save you, unless I choose to spare you. It may be that I shall, but only in case you give me full information. Look at these three men; they belong to me. I sent them on to draw you into my trap. What do you think I am now?"

What he was I had long known very distinctly, but prudence forbade my answering categorically, so I contented myself with telling him that he was a scoundrel, and always had been.

"Good!" he remarked. "I'll let that insult pass

now because my day of reckoning is coming. Now I know that you, or rather Old Firehand, have a lot of skins for sale. I have seen the settler with whom you stayed, and I know all about it. You did not find the trader you came to meet, but one of his agents. I came after you, and caught you. The trader, who I believe calls himself Davis, I'm sorry to say got away."

It seemed to me as he said this he glanced at the bush where he himself had hidden the night before. It was an involuntary glance, and struck me at once. Was there any connection between Davis and that bush? I must find out, though I could not look that way. He continued: "You know me; I know you, and we both understand that whoever falls into the other's hands is lost. I have you now, so your life is ended. The only question is how it shall end. I had determined to torture you as man was never tortured before, but now that I intend to discover Old Firehand's hiding-place, I'm not so sure. Tell me where this place is, and describe it to me exactly, and you shall have a painless death -- a bullet in the head."

"Very lovely! It's truly sweet and tender of you, but not very wise."

"Why?"

"We might describe the wrong place, to earn this quick death."

"I'm not so short-sighted as you think. I know how to test your information. But first I must know whether you will betray the place?"

"Betray is the right word, but you ought to know that Old Shatterhand is no traitor. I see that Winnetou has failed you; probably he has not answered you at all, for he is far too proud to talk to such a cur as

you. I have spoken to you, however, for my own reasons."

"And you will tell me nothing?"

"Not a word."

"Then we'll fasten you in a ring, like Winnetou."

"Do it."

"And torture you to death."

"Which will do you no good."

"You think so? I tell you I will find that place in any case."

"Possibly, by some blind chance, but too late even if you do, for if we are not back at a certain time Old Firehand will remove the skins to a place of safety; we arranged that before we started."

He looked down darkly and reflectively, playing with his knife. I saw through his double plan. The first half had miscarried; he must now fall back on the second part of the program. At last he raised his head and said: "So, if you'll not do what I wish I will force you to it. We'll see if your limbs are as insensible as the Apache's." He signaled to the other three, who seized me, and carried me over by Winnetou. This gave me a chance to see the bush at which Santer had glanced. My suspicion was right; a man was hidden there. He raised his head to see what was to be done with me, and I thought I recognized Davis.

It is useless to dwell on the next three hours, during which I was bound into a ring, and Winnetou and I suffered side by side without speaking, or allowing our tormentors to hear a sigh. Every fifteen minutes Santer came, and asked if we would do what he wished, but he received no answer. It was a question of which would hold out longer, he or we. It was a little after

midday that having again questioned us, Santer sat down with his comrades, and discussed something in a low tone. In a few minutes he said quite loudly: "I too believe that he is hidden somewhere about here, because he didn't get his horse when he escaped. Look all around carefully; I'll stay here with the prisoners."

Even if I had not known this was a farce, the loud tone in which he spoke would have shown it. As a rule one does not announce to a man that he is to be captured.

The three took their weapons, and withdrew. Winnetou whispered to me softly: "Does my brother know what is to happen?"

"Yes; they're going to capture Davis, and bring him here. Then they'll be very much surprised to find he is a friend of Santer's."

"Yes, and Davis will plead for us, and get our freedom. It will all be done as in those beautiful big houses of the pale-faces where men act plays."

"Exactly. Of course Santer is Burton, the trader, and Davis has led us into his hands." During this brief conversation we had not moved our lips, and Santer could not hear our soft whisper. He sat half turned from us, and listened. After some time a loud call resounded, two or three voices answered, then there followed a loud scream, and we saw the three Whartons come out of the bush, bringing Davis between them, apparently struggling to get away.

"Have you got him?", cried Santer, jumping up. "I knew he must be near; fasten him in a ring like --" He stopped short, started as though surprised, and then cried: "What! Who have you got there?"

Davis seemed equally delighted and astonished; he

broke away from the three, crying: "Mr. Santer! Is it possible? Oh, it's all right then, and nothing will happen to me."

"Happen to you! No, I guess not. Who could have thought that you and the Davis I wanted to catch were identical? Are you too with Burton, the trader?"

"Yes, Mr. Santer, and I was going to do a good piece of business on this very ride, only last night we were attacked by --" He too stopped short. They had been shaking hands heartily, but now Davis drew back a little, and said: "It can't be you who attacked us, Mr. Santer?"

"It was."

"Good heavens! Attacked by a friend; a man whose life I have often saved! What made you do it?"

"How should I have known you were here?"

"You couldn't. But look at these men there, fastened, and in such a way! That mustn't be; I can't stand it. I will free them."

He turned toward us, but Santer seized his arm. "Stop! What are you doing?" he cried. "These two are my deadly enemies."

"Your enemies! That's bad, still I must help them. And think who they are: Winnetou and Old Shatterhand!"

"It's precisely because they are those two that they shall have no mercy from me."

"Even if I ask you it?"

"Even then." "But think what you owe me; I have saved your life more than once."

"I know, and I won't forget it, Davis."

"Do you remember that the last time you swore to do anything I should ask of you?"

"I believe I did say so."

"And now I claim that promise."

"Don't do it, for I can't keep it. I am not willing to break my word."

"Come with me, Mr. Santer; I must talk to you." He took him by the arm and drew him aside, where they stood talking and gesticulating. They acted their farce so well that it would have deceived any one who was not thoroughly prepared.

At last Davis alone came to us, and said: "I have succeeded so far as to lighten your burden a little. You heard and saw what an effort this required; still I hope to free you altogether."

He unfastened us from our agonizing position, and returned to Santer to carry on his work of mercy. After a longer time they both came to us, and Santer said: "It seems as though the devil must protect you. I once made this gentleman a promise which I must keep. So I will do the most foolish act of my life, and free you, but everything you had with you, even your weapons, are mine."

Neither Winnetou nor I spoke.

"Well, are you too amazed at my generosity to speak?"

As no answer came to this either, Davis said: "Naturally this unexpected rescue has struck them dumb. I'll untie them."

He laid his hands on the ropes that held me. "Stop!" I said. "Either everything, or nothing, Mr. Davis."

"What do you mean?"

"We won't have freedom without our weapons, and all our property."

"Well, you're an ungrateful pair! I try to save you, and this is your return!" He drew Santer away again, and Winnetou whispered: "That was well done. It is certain they will do as we require, for they expect to get everything back later."

This was what I thought, and it proved true, for at last they all came over to us, and Santer said: "You have simply superhuman luck. My promise forces me to do what I know is idiotic. You'll laugh at me, but I'm the last man to laugh at, as you'll find out later. I'll set you free this time, and you shall have all that belongs to you. Till evening, however, you are to be tied to this tree, so that you can't follow us till early dawn. We'll ride back, and take Mr. Davis with us, so he can't free you before the appointed time. When it is dark he shall come back to you. You owe him your lives; see that you repay him."

No one spoke again. We were fastened side by side to two trees, our horses tied near us, and our weapons laid beside us. When this was done the five men rode away.

After a long silence Winnetou said: "We must catch Santer. Which does my brother think the surest way to do it?"

"Not by entrapping him in Old Firehand's valley."

"No; he must not learn the hiding-place. Davis will ride behind us to give him secret signs how to follow. When the right time comes we will disable him, and ride back on our track to wait for Santer. Does my brother agree to this plan?"

"Yes; that's the best I know of. Santer expects to get us, but we will get him."

"How!" Winnetou made no other reply, but the tone in which he spoke this one word expressed his satisfaction that after such a long vain search, at last; at last, his foe would fall into his hands.

The day crept like a snail, but evening finally came, and as soon as it was dark we heard a horse's hoofs, and Davis came to untie us. Of course he did not fail to lay full weight on the fact that he was our deliverer, and we tried to act as though we believed him, and expressed our profound gratitude. Then we mounted, and rode away.

Davis kept behind us, and occasionally we heard his horse prancing, which left a deep trail, and as the young moon arose we could see that from time to time he broke off a branch and dropped it to mark the way unmistakably. At noon of the next day we made a long halt of three hours, and rode two hours more, when we decided the time had come to deal with Davis. We reined up, and dismounted. He too sprang from his horse, and asked: "Why do you stop? This is the third time today. It can't be far now to Old Firehand's. Won't you go on, instead of camping for the night?"

Winnetou said: "No rascal can go to Old Firehand's."

"Rascal! What does the chief mean?"

"I mean that you are one."

"I? Since when has Winnetou been so unjust to a man who has saved his life?"

"Saved it! Do you really think you could deceive Old Shatterhand and me? We know everything. Santer is Burton, the trader, and you are his spy. You

have left signs for him to follow all the way. You are to deliver us over to Santer, yet you pretend you saved our lives. We watched, and now our time has come."

He stretched out his hand toward Davis, who took in the situation, turned, and swung himself into the saddle like a flash. But I had the horse by the bridle as quickly, and Winnetou had sprung up behind him, and seized him by the neck. Davis, who saw in me his most dangerous assailant, as I held his horse, drew his pistol, and aimed at me. I bent down as Winnetou seized the weapon. Both shots went wild, and a moment later Winnetou had Davis off his horse; another half moment and he was bound and gagged. We bound him with the thongs which had fastened us, disarmed him, and tied his horse near by, intending to come back after we had captured Santer. Then we rode back on our own trail, and hid behind the trees to wait for Santer. A quarter, a half, another quarter of an hour passed, and he did not come. After an hour I saw something moving across the horizon, and in a moment Winnetou pointed to it, and said: "Ugh! A rider."

"Surely a rider. That's strange."

"Ugh, Ugh! He rides at a gallop in the direction in which Santer must come. Can my brother see the color of his horse?"

"It seems to be a brown."

"It is brown, and Davis' horse was brown."

"Davis! Impossible! How could he get away?" Winnetou's eyes flashed; his breath came quicker; the light bronze of his face grew darker, but he controlled himself, and said calmly: "Wait one more quarter of an hour."

The time passed, but did not bring Santer. Then Winnetou asked me to ride to Davis, and see if he were still there. I did as he asked. The man was gone, and his horse also. Winnetou sprang to his feet as if shot from a cannon when I returned and reported this misfortune. "He has gone to warn Santer," he cried. "Who set him free? Did you see any trail?"

"Yes; a rider had come from the east; it was he freed him."

"Who could it be? A soldier from the fort?"

"No; the footprints were so large I am sure they were Sam Hawkins'. And I thought I recognized the hoofs of his mule Nancy."

"Ugh! There may be time to catch Santer, though he is warned. Let my brother come."

We threw ourselves on our horses, and rode westward like the wind. Winnetou did not speak, but a storm raged within him. Woe to Santer if he caught him! We came on Davis' trail, and in three minutes reached the spot where he had met Santer. They had turned back in the direction in which Santer had come. Had they kept on in the old way we could have followed them in spite of darkness, but they were too wise for that, and had branched off in another direction. It was too dark to see. Winnetou turned his horse, and we galloped back without a word. Once more Santer had escaped us; was it for today, or forever?

The moon was high as we reached the river, and entered the ravine. We met Sam Hawkins just at the mouth. "Were you riding today, Sam?" I asked.

"Yes; I went out a piece to look for you; we were getting anxious."

I was right; Sam, usually so wise, had been stupid enough to set Davis free.

"Does my white brother know what he is?" asked Winnetou, generally so considerate, and gentle towards the feelings of others.

"A frontiersman, and a trapper?" answered Sam innocently.

"No; no frontiersman, nor trapper, but such a thickhead as Winnetou has never seen before, and will never see again. How!"