So soon as Cucharés noticed that the men who presented themselves so strangely were really friends, he returned his knife to his boot, and went in search of the horses, which had been left a short distance off. He arrived at this moment, leading the two horses, and the five men proceeded together to the camping ground.
"Take care," Belhumeur said to Don Martial; "you have made yourself an implacable enemy this night. If you do not make haste to kill him, one day or another the Black Bear will kill you. The Apaches never pardon an insult."
"I know it; so I shall take my precautions, you may be sure."
"That is your concern. Perhaps it would have been better to get rid of him, at the risk of what might have happened afterwards."
"How could I imagine I had friends so near me? Oh, had I but known it!"
"Well, it is of no use crying over spilt milk."
"Do you believe that he will keep scrupulously the conditions he accepted?"
"You do not know the Black Bear; he is a man of noble sentiments and has a way of his own for understanding points of honour. You saw that during your entire discussion he disdained to play any trickery: his words were always frank."
"They were."
"Be certain, therefore, that he will keep his promise."