"Let my brother listen," the sachem at last went on, "the hunt will not begin till the ninth sun from this; that is more time than he requires to fetch his powder and return." "I grant it." "Good! The Red Buffaloes are not travelling; they are going to a grand assembly of their nations to witness a sacrifice of prisoners." "Ah!" the hunter said with capitally feigned surprise, "I did not know that the Comanches had made an expedition against the Apache dogs?" "The Apaches are cowardly knaves," the chief answered; "they have buried the hatchet so deep that they would be unable to find it, and lift it against the Comanches. The prisoners are palefaces." While uttering these words, the sachem fixed a searching glance on the hunter, but the latter did not blench. "That is of no concern of mine, chief," he replied carelessly, "especially if the prisoners are Spaniards." "My brother does not love the Spaniards?" "I should think not, the chief must remember the place where he met me a short time back." "That is true; my brother has not a deceitful tongue, he is the friend of the redskins." "I think I have proved that to you." "Good! Running Water is one of the first sachems of his nation, his word is good; let my brother go and fetch his ammunition, he will find the chief at the gathering place appointed for the tribe." "Very good, but where is it?" "All the hunters know it; it is the teocali of Zoltepec; will my brother come?" "I will try, chief; but, as you know, men are subject to the will of the master of life. If I missed the appointment you so graciously make with me, you must not be angry." "The chase will not begin before the eighth sun of the coming moon. The chief will wait for his brother the Sumach until the second sun before the hunt." "Oh, in that case," the hunter answered, not wishing to press the point further for fear of offending the chief, "you can count on me, I have more time than I require to settle my affairs, and be punctual at the meeting."