"Since you wish it, gentlemen. I should show but ill grace to refuse, the more that I value your gift highly." "I only ask one thing in return," said the old man. "I shall be ready to promise anything." "You will use what I have given you only with an honourable--" he said, with some hesitation. "It shall be so, I promise you." "And so we part friends; captain, your hand." "Friends, yes," said the pirate; "and I hope the day may come when you may try my friendship." "Who knows? The day may come sooner than we expect." "I shall be ready to shed the very last drop of my blood to defend or avenge you or yours." CHAPTER XX. A STRANGE CHASE. We know that Joshua Dickson had taken his departure from the valley, leaving it in charge to Harry. Harry was a fine young man, strong and intelligent, in whom his father had every confidence. He was the complete juvenile type of the American squatter and pioneer, up to Indian devilries, riding like a centaur, and able to put a ball in the eye of a panther at a hundred yards. His great passion was life in the open air, and the pleasures of the chase in the forest or field. One fine morning Harry, soon after the rising of the sun, galloped off into the forest. He was bent on a journey to see a fine cutting that was going to create meadows, and make room for sawmills on the banks of the great Missouri. He had nearly reached the spot, when he was startled by a whistle of a peculiar kind, at no great distance. At the same moment a horseman came in sight--a man of fifty, tall, thin and gaunt, with parchment skin. The horse was as bony as his master. The man was dressed after the fashion of the ordinary American farmer, and apparently carried no arms. "Eh, eh," cried he, "you are out early. Were you looking for me?" "No, M. Lagrenay; I was not even thinking of you." "That is not polite. Why did you stop when I whistled?" "Because I thought it the whistle of a serpent," he retorted. "But no nonsense, I was looking for you." "I was certain of it." "Yes, I wanted to see you. I made your acquaintance I know not how. You talk to me of things which do not please me, because they suggest evil thoughts. I have come to say that henceforth we are strangers. Never speak to me again." "I suppose you will give me a reason for this odd decision." "Think what you please. I have said my say." "Then I assume that you reject my offers." "Think and assume what you like," cried the young man, angrily; "only keep out of my path." "Then you have no passion for gold?" sighed the other. "You take me for a ninny, old squatter. Gold does not grow in the fields like mushrooms. Besides, you would have found it long ago if real." "I tell you the map indicating the exact spot," cried the old man, "was stolen from me by the outlaws." "You want to persuade me that you have known of this vast treasure for years, and yet require a stranger to help you."