"Good," the Indian remarked, joyously; "in that case you have need of me." "If that were true you would be satisfied, then?" "Yes, I should be." "For what reason?" "Because, since I have found a white man who is good and generous, I am anxious to prove to you that all the Caribs are not ferocious and untameable, but know how to be grateful." "I promised you, I think, to take you back to your country?" "Yes, you made me that promise." "Unfortunately, as I am appointed chief of an important expedition, which will probably last some time, it is impossible for me at this moment to take you back to Haiti." The Indian's face grew dark on hearing this. "Do not grieve, but listen to me attentively," the filibuster continued, who had noticed the change that took place in the Indian's face. "I am listening to you." "What I cannot do you are able to effect by yourself, if I supply you with the means." "I do not exactly understand what the white Chief means; I am only a poor Indian, with limited ideas. I require to have things explained to me very clearly before I understand them; but it is true, that when I do understand I never forget." "You are a Carib, hence you know how to manage a canoe?" "Yes," the Indian answered, with a proud smile. "Suppose I gave you a canoe, do you believe that you could fetch Haiti?" "The great land is very far away," he said, in a sorrowful voice, "the voyage very long for a single man, however brave he may be." "Agreed; but suppose I placed in the canoe not only provisions, but cutlasses, axes, daggers, and four fusils, with powder and ball?" "The pale Chief would do that!" he said, with an incredulous air. "Thus armed, who could resist Omopoua?" "Suppose I did more?" the adventurer continued, with a smile. "The Chief is jesting; he is very gay. He says to himself, the Indians are credulous; I will have a laugh at the expense of Omopoua." "I am not jesting, Chief--on the contrary, I am very serious; I will give you the things I have enumerated to you, and, in order that you may reach your country in safety, I will lend you a comrade, a brave man, who will be your brother, and defend you as you would defend yourself." "And that companion?" "Is here," said Montbarts, pointing to his engagé, who was standing calm and motionless by his side. "Then I am not to make the expedition with you, Montbarts?" the latter said, in a sad voice, and with a reproachful accent. "Reassure yourself," said Montbarts, tapping him gently on the shoulder; "the mission I send you on is most confidential, and even more perilous than the expedition I am undertaking. I wanted a devoted man--another self--and I have chosen you." "You have done well, in that case; I will prove to you that you are not mistaken about me." "I am convinced of that already, my lad. Do you accept this companion, Omopoua? He will help you to pass without being insulted through the filibusters you may meet on your route."