"My brother speaks too loudly," he said. "In the desert a man is never alone; the leaves have eyes, the trees ears."
"Bah! What you say, has not common sense. Who on earth would play the spy on us? With the exception of your warriors, who are probably concealed in the neighbourhood, no one can see or hear us."
The Indian shook his head. Now that he was standing only a few spaces from the adventurers, Belhumeur perceived that Eagle-head was not mistaken, and that the man was really the Black Bear. The two men stood for a moment silently gazing at each other. The Mexican was the first to speak.
"You have manoeuvred well," he said in an insinuating voice. "I know not how you managed it, but you have succeeded in entering the fort."
"Yes," the Indian replied.
"Now we have only our final arrangements to make. You are a great chief in whom I place the utmost confidence. Here is what I promised you. I ought not to pay you till afterwards, but I do not wish the slightest cloud to rise between us."
The Indian silently rejected the purse the other held out to him.
"The Black Bear has reflected," he said coldly.
"On what, may I ask?"
"A warrior is not a woman to waste his words. What my brother offered the Black Bear, the Apache chief refuses."