"Waiting for me?" he asked, in surprise.
"Yes. Sparrowhawk warned us, on the part of Thunderbolt, that the chief and myself were to hold ourselves in readiness to escort the man who entered the village with you wherever he thinks proper to go."
"Ah! Whistler has spoken well," Peccary remarked, laconically.
"What else has happened?"
"Nothing, except that Thunderbolt has made this man a present of a mule, laden with rich wares, as Sparrowhawk says. But go on, and he will tell you about it himself."
Stronghand entered, and found the majordomo busily engaged in making his preparations for a start. So soon as he saw the hunter, Paredes eagerly walked up to him, and shook his hand several times.
"You are welcome, comrade," he said. "¡Caray! you are a man of your word, so forgive me."
"Forgive you for what?" the young man asked, with a smile.
"For having doubted you, caramba."
"Doubted me?"