The Treasure of Nugget Mountain | Page 5

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