The next day a caravan of six white horse, a few Indians also mounted warriors and thirty women and children walk down the foothills of the Accursed Mountains and took the road leading to the water point where Cindy was captured. Adam smiled ironing it to his beautiful and congratulated her with his clever idea to sow dollars, “It is through this that you were found, darling” (he used this expression he had so often heard in the mouth of his stepmother Mary). They continued their journey in the footsteps of Joe and Val when they heard gunshots. The three brother Cartwright looked a significant air and turned back, ready to run, “If you wish, Marshal, you will remain here with the tribe and women. My brothers and I are going to recognize. »

And without waiting for the answer, they swooped like arrows in the direction of the noise. At least five hundred meters, they saw a man lying in blood, calling for help.

“It looks like Steven,” Joe launched.

“Yes, that’s him,” confirmed Adam. In a few strides, they joined the wounded and dismounted to surround.

“He was wounded in the shoulder,” said Hoss

 “Also in the thigh,” Adam completed after considering the man more closely. He got up, took the gourd attached to his saddle and sparingly licked his lips the unfortunate detective.

 “Who did this to you? »

Steven Adam stared at his blue eyes that glistened tears of pain, “This is Julius,” he let out a sigh.

But why? “Asked Hoss.

Steven opened his mouth to answer, but too low, dropped her head on the arm of Adam. “Wait,” said the latter, “I’ll tell you what I think, and we’ll sign you if it’s right. When he captured Steeple, Julius tried to make him spit the secret of mine and then he decided to appropriate it. As you geniez, he tried to shoot you down “

The wounded man nodded and added in a whisper: “The’ve hurt too. Drawn on the wrist. »

“I see,” Adam did, “he preferred to abandon you there, assuming that the sun would finish the work, rather than to risk a fight with you that would give Steeple a chance to escape. Well, we will try to heal you, man. Hoss, help me to climb on the Sport and am very careful, he has already lost a lot of blood. »

Adam stood behind Steven and came back not to the Indians. They looked at the back with hostility: the unconscious man that brought them was white and therefore an enemy who was not under the protection of the goddess.

Adam hastened to explain to Val and Von Töpser the need to do everything to save Steven: “Not only is it a question of humanity but, in addition, Julius intends to accuse us of his death. This is a sworn detective and our word will not be worth much against his. »

“I want to” fit Von Töpser, “but I do not know retrieve a ball. I saw Ruth healing plants use on wounds and I took with me but I can not do more than bandages. »

“It’s perfect,” said Adam. “Hoss and I will remove the bullets and you will make the dressing. But I’m sorry, Miss Valerie “

“Val …”

“Yes, Val, excuse me, but we need you to attend us. As the wife of the Great White Buffalo, you are, in the eyes of the Indians, a healer, so you must do pretend to participate. »

“I’ll do better than that, I will do the dressing myself. Like all well-bred young girls, I have knowledge in nursing. »

Adam favored her with a wide smile which she cared little while busy contemplating the one Joe aimed at him.

They spread Steven on an Indian blanket, gave him a swig whiskey bottle each of Cartwright was equipped and started the operation, Val hiding them from view Indians as Von Töpser held at a respectful distance.

Adam pulled the bullets he carefully put it in the pocket of his shirt, “Here,” he says, “an exhibit if it comes to the idea of ​​Steven to make us wear the hat his crime. »

Whilst he was working Von Töpser and Joe had asked the Indians utensils that allowed them to make a tepee, the same elements, pikes and animal skins, which can be used to make a pallet. Steven was laid there and the little party returned with a still slower towards Las Vegas.

Bring Steven living in the state he was in, was within the challenge in this desolate landscape where the sand dunes succeeded in mudflats cracked dried by a relentless sun. Adam Von Töpser entrusted with the delicate task of explaining the need for the Indians, both slow and not to ration water in order to regularly moisten the lips of the injured and moisturize his skin. Seeing that the marshal might riot, he changed his tactics and asked him to teach Val few sentences, Shoshone language that would allow him to give his divine live instructions. When the tribe was bowed to the wishes of the woman of the Great White Bison, slow and difficult journey continued. Under the sun that was reflected in the salt walls, they all had hallucinations. Adam saw himself, hauling the stretcher that carried the carcass Kane, this madman who had brought him to the edge of madness. Joe felt the blonde haired Val dragged into endless golden rays, continuing a wave to the line of the horizon. Hoss was mirage mirage: forms quirky salt hills appearing to him, sometimes as representing the head of his father, sometimes evoking gigantic sandwiches, sometimes still Leprechauns battery agglutinated the one above the other.

Cindy, for its part, bathed in a sort of lethargy. She was stripped of all ambition since she had both found her beloved father and learned that she was going to marry the man of her heart. Val, however, felt oppressed, probably because it was fully aware of the responsibility that weighed on her until they arrived in Las Vegas. As for Von Töpser less sensitive to the effects of the desert by force of habit, he began to gamberger: what would he do once he returned to civilization? Was he really ready to give up some of its mine? And besides, how to be sure that the army, once made aware, did not make off with its entire vein? Unless Captain Baker also proves that greedy Kirchubel or Julius. Certainly, the future was not rosy … Accustomed to fend for himself, the marshal did not even think that Adam, her future son-which, however, had already proved resourceful, could help in any way whatsoever.

By the middle of the third day they came to Las Vegas. Adam and Joe went scouts to warn Baker they arrived with a tribe of Indians in distress, Germany’s lost and found and one of the detectives of the Pinkerton Agency wounded by his colleague. Baker frowned at this avalanche of unexpected news but gave the green light for all of this disparate caravan enters the city and gives orders both for a corner that tells them where to camp and drink for monitor the location in question.

The first concern of Cartwright brothers was to bring the doctor to the village to look after Steven was in bad shape. It took some time to come so he ran arriving at Baker who had questioned the injured.

The captain had to wait fifteen minutes while the doctor examined Steven and put that expectation advantage to query Von Töpser. He already knew the version of the facts and Adam could check with the detective after the green light given by the practitioner. The patient was very weak but able to answer a short interrogation, said the doctor. Soon, the captain became convinced that the story had been done to him was true.

It only remained to negotiate the installation of the Indians in a viable place this last phase of Adam plane proved more difficult than expected because of the sudden reluctance Von Töpser, following his meditations during the crossing the desert. Realizing that something had changed since leaving the mountain, Cindy Adam called to the rescue for her help in convincing his father to speak. She accepted, not without apprehension. She knew the father who had left three years earlier but the man of today was it really the same?

Faced with his daughter and her future son-Von Töpser eventually give way to unpack his fears. Adam, who had already thought already had the answer:

“We will not be committing the imprudence to reveal the location of the mine until it has been registered as belonging to you and we will not give the army any ownership rights over the vein: we will engage just provide a certain amount of gold each year. »

“And how will we save my rights without the mine site to be revealed to Baker? »

“If you trust me, I will send the information to my father by telegram in code. He will do what is necessary. That way we avoid evil temptation to Baker. Now Marshal … “

“Call me Valdemar, you will not give me the Marshal lifetime! »

Adam smiled, “Good! I was saying now Valdemar, we have to take care of your Kirchubel Jurgen and his new friend, Julius. »

“I can take care of myself. »

 “I doubt it. You have not got the best Kirchubel there three years. »

 “It took me by surprise. It will not happen anymore. »

Adam was about to point out to his future father-Kirchubel that was now an important ally since it was a seasoned member of the Pinkerton Agency but changed his mind. It was a very remarkable man as the elder Cartwrights. Although just over thirty, it was shown great wisdom and a deep understanding of human nature. This early maturing certainly came from his childhood. Barely weaned, his father had led a long and dangerous journey. Everything was then unknown to the young inexperienced colon: the purpose of the trip, the countries to cross, people to meet, wildlife, flora and the job he was going to kiss. He had his early career as a sailor and nothing predisposed him to become a pioneer of the Far West. But on the strength of a promise made to his dying wife, he left behind twenty-five years of life to run the adventure with a baby. Adam had been treated like a little man as soon as he could speak. He had learned to be silent and overcome fear in all circumstances, whether the hazardous crossing a disassembled torrent of wandering hungry through a barren and desolate landscape involuntary incursions Indian territory or confrontation with evil and brutal men in city fungi that were born in the footsteps of the caravans. This young age without children had taught him a lot about how humans react, especially on their relationship to gold. Ill will, which was evidence of irrationality Von Töpser soon as it was his gold mine, was not surprised. One day, a journalist had used the metaphor of the “fever” of gold and the word was right. Von Töpser like others, ceased to be sane when it was mentioned. “Yet,” thought Adam, “had he, he excuses that others do not have because he had to pay full price for the discovery of his countenance an injury and three years of confinement in the cursed mountain … “.

Instead of continuing a useless exchange of replicas, knowing that the logic was, in this case, ineffective, he decided to act as if that was not confessed was:

“Listen, Valdemar, if I promise you over the head of your daughter that I did not come near your mine, you let me come? I will stop wherever you tell me to do, you will remain known only to its location, but at least I can watch and protect you from intruders. Do I have your agreement? »

A little ashamed to feel so exposed, Von Töpser gave a little embarrassed smile and eventually drop:

“Okay, but there will be you, I do not want nobody else, not even your brothers. »

“That is understood. »

That evening, they shared their project Hoss, Joe and the two girls and were met with strong opposition from all sides, with the sole exception Valley. The latter saw a very good eye that Joe is not exposed to new dangers but Cindy was the opposite view. We could understand: they were his father and the man who claimed his life from the heels of two robbers in-the middle of a merciless desert which they had barely escape.

It required all the eloquence of Adam and authority of the marshal to silence the objections:

“Come, come,” says Von Töpser, “we are not choirboys. We’ll take a day not only for rest and perk us but to equip us. Then I trust the cunning of Adam and his knowledge of the desert, but also my strength and my strategic knowledge to get the better of the two extortionists. »

Hoss nodded lip and made a cabalistic sign Joe, in the eyes of the latter, clearly wanted to say, “Let’s pretend to bow. »

As expected, two days later, Adam Cartwright and Valdemar Von Töpser perched on horses borrowed from the army (Adam did not want to unnecessarily expose Sport), armed to the teeth and fonts well stocked dry food and provisions of water, left to dawn. Cindy, that Hoss surrounded reassuringly arm could hardly back tears, “My God, Hoss, please tell me they will come back. I can not get out of my mind a feeling that it will go wrong. In my dreams, I see a bloodied man who crawls in the desert. He looks exhausted and thirsty head towards me and this is my father first and then it becomes Adam. »

“Calm down, Miss Cindy, we do not give up. My brother and I, we decided to give them a lead of twenty-four hours later, we will introduce us to their research and I believe that Baker will give us help. Is not allowed to take any chances with a man who has a fabulous gold mine. “He ended in a chuckle.

This statement Cindy cheered up: between the protection afforded to Adam by his brothers and his father that provided the army, it is true that there was no need to worry for their lives. The gold mine might change hands but that she did not care: all the gold in the world was not worth the Adam’s arm encircling her waist.

At the slow pace of his horse numbed by the heat, Von Töpser advanced without worrying about making conversation to his companion. He meditated, wondering for the twentieth time why he did not, before leaving, handed over to Cindy a plan of his mine. If, because of his stupid distrust, he carried his secret to the grave, she would not have the gold mine and there would be for him to go face the duplicity of her stepmother and fraudulent acts his notary. Obviously, she would find in Adam effective support and would not have to worry about the next day as the father of the young man seemed to have deep pockets but what if he too was killed? Certainly, his attitude was inexplicable and he wanted. He hesitated to turn around to repair his error, but caught in indecision, he plunged into the desert inexorably, making every minute his about-face increasingly difficult and ridiculous. Adam’s voice roused him from his reverie.

“And now, in what direction are we going? »

On his instructions, the eldest Cartwright brought him back to the water point where, a week earlier, Cindy had been captured by a Shoshone Indian. It was from there that he had to return to the path where he had the painful memory of the betrayal of Jurgen. From there, they went into dangerous territory because Kirchubel might be ambush and probably Julius with him.

Fifty meters right, opened into the mesa a crevice just wide enough to let a rider: “It is here,” he pointed out.

Adam frowned: “Are you sure it is necessary to take this passage It is a real cut-throat. »

“It widens after fifty meters. Anyway, I do not know any other way. »

“Well, well, if we do not have a choice … What do you prefer? Pass and let me do the screen? »

“I can pass, they will not shoot at me as I would not have led them to the mine. You, however, you are a nuisance. »

Adam smiled, “You’re right, except that they will also save me this time because they are not aware that you have not told me the location of the mine. »

They entered the narrow tunnel, looking up at the hills in case the sun, shimmering on the barrel of a gun, reveal a lookout lurking in the shelter of a rock but they crossed the fifty yards unhindered. Then, as announced Von Töpser, the corridor widened. They traveled for an hour because the heat hell What did reign reverb was unbearable. Men and sighed when they came home on a large inner tray, surrounded by the walls of the mesa. Adam ordered a break.

“Now we are going to travel short. “Von told Töpser,” and this time, I do not see how to prevent them from knowing where we are going. There would be the solution to separate us … “

“It does not blur the tracks, they would follow you. No, for me, the best thing is to get as close as possible while making the convolutions are to arrive at dusk, to draw up our camp not too far or too close to the path portion that only you know and you to leave at night and on foot. I only ask one thing, to tell me how you re-engulf you in the mountain, I can mail me on guard. »

“You know, my boy, I thought, I think I’ll give you the plan. »

“Do not do anything,” Adam hastened to say, “When you see the gold, your fever will take over and you will again become suspicious to me. Just do what I ask. »

Von Töpser watched with admiration the young man who refused a fortune so easily. “I thought I got hold of a treasure,” he thought aloud, “but this is my Cindy who found it. »

Adam looked at him with that half-smile, home, hid deep emotion: “I believe that each of us found a treasure in this expedition but yours may not be where you think. Since my childhood, I know, thanks to my father and my brothers, a loving family is worth infinitely more than a gold mine, and for having lost two stepmothers I loved, I know what he costs to be deprived of every bit of that treasure. I have found, I hope, a worthy father-I do not want to lose him for a little gold. »

Von Töpser got up to shake hands with force, saying her wet eyes longer than any speech. Then he proposed to hit the road. They followed Adam plane doing tricks and turns, their not drawing a true scallop on the floor, from south to north and from west to east throughout the day until Von decided Töpser it was time to stop. They openly took their time to raise a genuine fortified camp, moving pieces of rock to install them circumference around their horses and their covers to give the impression that they barricaded themselves for the night.

Adam lit a fire to cook beans and bacon and they ate in silence, scanning the night sounds. Then they carefully extinguished the fire and spread in the dark. The moon was in its first quarter and only broadcast a small light. Adam gave to Von Töpser six hours of sleep and then crawled silently, he woke him, some stones disposed alongside Von Töpser, covered the coverage of Marshal and whispered, “Now you can leave. Go crawling up the side of the mountain. You can straighten you once arrived. »

To his surprise, Von Töpser replied:

“I can not, Adam, I’m too ground, too tired, too old, in the end. It is for you to go. You will enter through the point that I have told you, you climb a narrow path to a sand dune. Do not venture out there, the sand is soft and you swallow. Go around it. A hundred meters on the left is a kind of tunnel. You have to crawl a few meters and then you emerge in a cave. It’s there. There is a pick to extract pieces of gold rock. The problem with this mine is his holding, he would have to work … But for now, you can just refer you to is reassuring Baker “

Adam was thinking, in petto, that it was worth doing so much mystery since end of the race, he would have to hire men to exploit it. After recommending to Von Töpser imitating the owl if he saw a danger, he left, his black clothes helping to blend into the night.

When he reached the crevice mentioned by Von Töpser he saw immediately that it was preceded: there was a small piece of cloth, probably torn from a shirt that was left clinging to a rocky needle. He redoubled caution when he heard a groan above him. He drew his gun and walked groping, his left hand providing details on the route of the road when he felt the sand. “That’s the dune”, he said. A new grunting reached him closer. Guided by the noise, he stepped forward and then the noise came from the dune. He reached into his pocket a match and, while standing ready to shoot, snapped it on his sole. A fleeting glow of the flame, he saw the head of Julius emerging only the heap of sand:

“Help, I sink,” cried the detective saw the light, “Steeple, have mercy, viiite. »

Horrified, Adam reconstructed the scene: if Julius thought he was Steeple, aka Kirchubel, it meant that he himself had avoided being swamped by the dune. Voluntarily or not, he had to leave it Julius hazard. Unfortunately, Adam could not do anything for the unfortunate who was sinking inexorably victim of his greed. Adam uttered a silent prayer for the man who died three meters away from him and went on his way, knowing that now Kirchubel knew someone was there and assumed it was someone Marshal Von Töpser. It would not show, waiting for it opens the way to the mine. But Adam was not going to get into her game. Since Julius had revealed his presence, so take the initiative. Delving back into his pocket, he pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and threw it to him, then another cracking match, threw it on the paper that was hot, making a little light. A second, no more, he spotted the flicker of a piece of metal and pulled in that direction.

“Aaarch. Donnerwetter … “he heard. Then a long sentence in German followed this exclamation. Adam did not understand that language. Clearly Kirchubel took him for his former boss. Taking again, he launched “Hands up, Kirchubel! »

Who are you? “Answered the voice, in English this time.

“Police. I just stop you. »

“At this hour, at night? You do nothing, my poor old man, how do you stop me? »

“I see nothing but I hear and I have all my time. I’ll wait for the day and then I stop you. »

“I’ll be long gone. »

“I bet not. You hit the point, you will not leave like that “

“My goal, what? »

“The gold mine of your old master, Von Töpser marshal. »

“You are well informed. »

“Yes, straight from the source. »

“Well, Mr. policeman, I’ll wait for me too and in the morning I will kill you. »

“That’s what we’ll see,” Adam did, squaring comfortably behind a rock hollow.

The wait began. The hardest part was to fight against sleep. The day had been hard and Adam was given a short rest four hours. To avoid falling, he began thinking about Cindy, his body détaillait it in her head, her beautiful hair to his tiny feet, through dark eyes to the changing expression, ruddy The mischievous mouth neck that was bent, the bold breasts that pointed in the bodice, thin waist … The legs? He had not seen his legs hidden under ample skirts, unlike those of Val whose thinness was imprisoned in the pants she wore boy since the beginning of the trip. Legs, for the moment, he needed to imagine, but he had no doubt that they were at the height of the rest. No, really, it was what is commonly called a nice little lot. He smiled at the thought when he heard the sound of snoring.

So Kirchubel, he could not resist! It was a godsend that we should not waste it. He waited a few minutes to be sure that his opponent was fast asleep snoring but was very regular. He scratched a new match. The sleeper remained impassive. Being guided by the sound Adam walked and stopped when he felt a rock face in his palm. Kirchubel was obviously hiding behind that rock. Adam walked around and sat in the dark behind his opponent in a position to, or so he supposed, of the overhang. He had voluntarily placed in an uncomfortable pose not to succumb, too, to sleep. He resumed his reverie about Cindy, trying to imagine what life would be like once finished this adventure. The young woman seemed stubborn and he felt that he needed to curb his authoritarian temperament if he wanted to get on well with her. On second thought, moreover, he had never courted a woman actually submitted. Regina herself, raised in an apparently quite strict Quakers environment with women, had demonstrated that it was bowing easily. Ruth, in one of the last words she had spoken to him, had questioned the oath of obedience that every woman should, in principle, lead to her husband … No, really, despite his taste for command, his instinct urged him not to soft, impressionable women. But it was necessary, in matters of love, knowing how to listen intuition. He would learn to Cindy to think, not to give in too easily in his first impulse. He would handle as is a wild horse with a gentle firmness. Patience and tenderness would do more and better than the hard way. He thought of his father’s relationship with each of them: even with Hoss, Ben would sometimes compose, even with Joe. Meanwhile, typically, it was only by reasoning that could persuade him to change his mind. But Cindy seemed to belong to the type “Joe” …

His sentimental musing thus continued until dawn and the first light enabled him to discover, three meters from him, turning her back, slumped against the silhouette of rock called Kirchubel. He took off his hat, pulled the bandana which constituted the lining and approached the German to tie his hands. Unfortunately, his foot caught a stone went rolling on the person’s forehead so that when Adam fell upon him, he was fully awake, although it has not had time to point his weapon. There followed a melee more dangerous antagonists were in a steep path. Adam had managed to disarm Kirchubel but he replied, grabbing a rock that hit the forehead, causing him severe pain if he dropped his gun.

“I got you, schweine” exclaimed Kirchubel picking it but Adam had rebounded enough to ship him a kick in the groin which folded in half. The gun changed hands again. While holding Kirchubel plays, Adam wondered what to do. The German was tricky: if Adam made him turn back, it would do pass, risking it to start running in the meanders of the trail. On the other hand, access to the mine supposed to crawl through a tunnel. If Adam passed, Kirchubel take to their heels, if passed behind it was pure suicide because the bandit find the deck and could only wait it emerges from the tunnel to smash him skull.

Definitely the solution of the mine was the most risky: Kirchubel grasping the weapon in his left hand and his right hand, Adam enjoined debauchery heading back along the dune walking with measured steps. On the first turn, tried to distort Kirchubel him company but Adam joined him in a few strides and pulled in his feet as a warning shot. The bandit calmed. Arrived at the dune, Adam turned his head toward the heap of sand but found no trace of Julius. “Fortunately,” he said to himself under his breath, “Steven was able to speak because otherwise God knows who was accused of the death of this unfortunate Julius. No one would have ever wanted to believe that Pinkerton Detective Agency could betray his duty in this way. “

After the dune, it took down the narrow path. Hampered by the blood flowing on his eye, Adam paused a moment to absorb. Kirchubel noticed and went like hell. Adam pulled judgmental, both try to stop that to alert Von Töpser.

It was there, camped, rifle in hand, when Kirchubel led to the current board and he greeted his old home with a round of warning froze the fugitive.

“Ach, master Jurgen, not sorry to see you …”

Kirchubel recoiled as if he wanted to blend into the wall but actually refuge, he found the two guns Adam who dug into her skin, “I think this is the end, Kirchubel” said Adam. “Valdemar you will find on the side of my horse dicked what this unsavory. »

And the other? “Asked Von Töpser while it was running. Adam recounted concisely him the sad end of Julius.

“God rest his soul but it was a tough rascal,” says Von Töpser as an epitaph. “But gold, Adam, do not you find? »

Adam explained the choice that was available to him: “But now,” he finished, “nothing prevents you from accessing your most mine and draw all the gold you want. »

Unexpectedly, Valdemar laughed: “Because, you see, my dear Adam, I have made myself to the idea that it is you who are going to climb, crawl, dig down and wearing the gold. »

Adam replied, laughing, too, but a little nervously, “I see. Certainly, it is a fad. Reminds me a Kane had exploited to exhaustion me to let me extract gold from a mine that does not contain. »

“But mine contains, I assure you. »

“Maybe, but if you do not want to do the work yourself, you’ll have to let me sleep, I’m exhausted. I will go when the sun will be a little declined. Getting closer to the wall to put us in the shade and watch out our host. If he is thirsty or hungry, let eat or drink without detaching it is dangerous. »

“Do not worry, I am well placed to know. »

Adam took the time to get a bandage around his head to stop the bleeding and then he let himself slip into a voluptuous sleep under the surly look of fatherly Kirchubel Von Töpser. It shook him on the stroke of five o’clock.

“Hey, marmot species, wake up, the sun has turned and it is time to get on with it”

Tapped by a terrible migraine, Adam sat, head in hands. He looked fresh water, both for drinking and sprinkle. He felt bad shape and demanded a cafe that did him good. Then he walked to the mine trail.

It took still bandaged his energy to remake the way the day before. He found the tunnel entrance, went inside, crawled a few meters careful not to turn off the gas lamp he had brought with him and then uncorked, as announced, in a vast cave walls which sparks flew ” dammit, “he whispered,” It’s true that there’s something for a fortune. »

He set to work not without difficulty, each sod he gave pretend ringing in his head. “But, what do I have? “If he asked. “This must be the blow that gave me this rascal Kirchubel. »

He attacked an asperity that seemed easier to detach. This was a beautiful specimen. After twenty minutes of effort, the piece of rock fell to the ground while simultaneously Adam collapsed, unconscious.

He came to himself, rocked by a quick time upside down. Painfully opening his eyes, he saw what at first seemed to be only a brown mass which then took shape as the cloth trousers. He realized he was made to go down the path wearing it. He groaned.

“It looks like it comes down to it,” said the voice of Joe.

“God be praised. I can not stop now, Adam, but I’m asking you as soon as possible, “said the voice of Hoss.

Nausea, Adam closed his eyes. A few minutes later, he felt himself lifted and placed as gently as possible on the floor. “It’s going to Adam? “Joe asked. How do you feel? “Asked Hoss.

Where am I? “Stammered Adam and he fell unconscious.

“Quick, water” shouted Hoss.

“What is it? “Asked Von Töpser while Baker soldiers brought a water bottle.

“We found in the cave, next to the rock that Joe carries in his bundle. He had lost consciousness. »

“But what has happened? He has still not been attacked, Jurgen has not moved from my sight. »

“I do not know sir Von Töpser. He has a band, what’s the blood on his head? »

“This is the wound that made him Jurgen when they fought yesterday morning. »

“You have carefully before letting him go in the mine? »

“No,” was Von Töpser, pitiful.

“Then look no further. It would have a concussion that it would not surprise me more than that. »

While talking, Hoss moistened the face of his brother opened his eyes:

Where am I? “He asked again.

“You’re with me, Joe, Marshal, Baker and his men, and that brigand Steeple at the foot of the mesa cursed. »

“But … what are you doing here? I told you to stay in Vegas … “

“Nonsense, you did not think we were going to leave your carcass dry out in the frying pan. We usually you’re here to break our feet, that we would miss if it stopped too. »

Adam smiled faintly immediately followed by a grimace. “I’m terribly headache …”

“Here,” Baker was waving a bottle, “I laudanum, give in, it will take until we were back in Las Vegas. »

Epilogue

It was the excitement when, Baker led the little band came on in Las Vegas. The Indians waited, curious to know what the Pale Faces went searching the Cursed Mountain, Val and Cindy watched their men and it screamed when she saw that his coming on a stretcher.

“Do not panic, Miss Cindy, we’ll call the doctor, it’s probably a concussion. »

These words, to reassure the girl only aggravated his anxiety. She spent three days and three nights at the bedside of his beloved who, subject to fever, reached temperature peaks. Joe and Hoss had telegraphed to their father who had rushed. He arrived after five days sweating, unshaven, eyes surrounded by fatigue from having speedily through fear of arriving too late to see his son alive. But Adam had passed the critical point and was now the doctor confirmed it, out of danger.

Knowing his useless help the sick room, Von Töpser attended to settle the fate of the Indians and that of his mine. He entered into negotiations with Baker and said:

“Listen to me, Captain, I am ready to show me very generous to the army if, on the one hand, you make me safety in the operation of my mine and, secondly, you agree to install the Shoshone in a sufficiently fertile place for them to live with dignity. Find me a place somewhere between Las Vegas and Virginia City. I will leave the Army a good percentage of gold taken from my mine “

“How many? “Asked Baker, ready to battle to get 10%.

“33%”, said Von Töpser, 25% for the Army and 8% for you personally. I want you to be my stint here, so I you are interested in the results. »

Net dried and choked joy, Baker could not utter a word, and confined himself to reach out to this amazing German.

“As I understand it, that’s okay,” gloated the Marshal. “And above all, hold me Jurgen behind very thick bars, I do not want to find it on my way, this scorpion. »

“With all the murders he has to his credit, do not worry, it will be the rope. “Said Baker.

When Ben felt reassured to his eldest son, he asked his son to present the Marshal and two girls and asked to be aware of what had happened. He collected from each of the scattered stories until he almost reconstructed the puzzle. All that was missing the party that Adam was alone know. When the doctor came into the thought convalescence, ten days after their return to Las Vegas, they found themselves all in his room for a full story.

“And now,” asked Ben, when he judged fully informed “what are your plans? »

“To whom do you ask, Pa,” said Joe.

“But each of you. Who wants to start? »

“Me, because it’s going to go fast,” launched Hoss, “My plan is to go Ponderosa and m’attabler before a feast prepared by Hop-Sing. »

All laughed, and Ben turned to his youngest son: “That is clear. And you, Joe, are your plans the same? »

Joe, before answering, went for Val whose blond hair shone throughout the room, “I will never say  my  projects, but  our  projects, Pa I want you to Valerie St. Quentesseth but do like everyone else, call the Val. waiting to call your daughter because I love him and I want to marry her. »

Ben turned to Val: “And you, young lady, are you willing to marry my son Starling? »

Val was a little pout gently mocking: “Especially agree, Mr. Cartwright that I am exactly like him, your son will tell you. »

“It is true! “Commented Adam, the bed bottom,” Val, it’s a female Joe, I am seen me from day one. »

“Well,” Ben was laughing, “I do not know if we have enough nerve to withstand Joe in duplicate but we will try. Come here, my child, “he said, opening his arms,” ​​just as I embrace you. »

Val rushed to Ben and let him kiss her, tears to her eyes. That was ten years she had not known a father’s hug and she confessed very simply to Ben.

“My dear girl, if you want, I’m ready to replace the extent possible, the father that you no longer have. »

“Say yes, Val, my darling,” said Joe, “Pa has always been highly developed paternal fiber. You’ll find your account. »

She turned to him, “You have me for the rest of my life enough for my happiness. But if, as a bonus, I gained a father … “

“And brothers …” added Hoss.

“And a sister,” Cindy completed

“… Then” finished Val, “I’m the happiest girl in the world. »

“Tied! “Cindy cried a shrill tone that caught Ben’s attention to it.

“Ah, but it’s true,” said the patriarch, “I feel that I am not out wedding announcements.

“No, indeed,” said Joe.

“Ca, Pa, you have to prepare yourself to a double wedding …” replied Hoss

“Whoa, wait,” cried the Marshal, “is you, Cartwright, asking me the hand of my daughter for your son. The daughter then she has a father and not the least. »

At that time, a noise like a gunshot, startled. They froze.

“Ah, finally a little silence,” was Adam, “I was forced to slam a paper bag to make you shut up. I would point to all this is to me and to anyone else that comes care to tell Pa I want to marry Cindy. You can request it in forms Marshal, I did not worry too much as it has given me. »

Von Töpser held out his hands to Ben then turned to Cindy and, after having affectionately embrace, pushed her into Ben’s arms embraced him warmly. “Two daughters of a sudden, I who expect this for so long, at least as far as my eldest son. Bravo, my dear, you were right this confirmed bachelor, I congratulate you.

After being released from Ben’s arms, Cindy approached her fiancé who, having straightened, pulled her to him for a long kiss without seeming embarrassed by the audience watching them.

“And now, my dear stepfather,” he said after leaving with regret the lips of his bride, “it is for you to tell us what you want to do. You will go back to Germany? »

“Yes, Dad,” adds Cindy, what are your plans for you.

He took no shoulders and looked into his eyes:

“My little girl,” he said in a trembling voice, “I had a lot to think about the last three years and more in the last three weeks. My decision is made, you found me, you will not lose me. I stay here. I’ll settle in Virginia City while keeping a pied-a-terre in Las Vegas and I will devote myself to the defense of Shoshone. They need to be helped. That’s what will my gold. I have already arranged everything with Baker, I would you know, Adam because you are already my partner in all my stuff, hold it for you said. The rest of the time I look forward to the opportunity to indulge in the art of being a grandfather to Adam with your children and you, but if they are willing, with those of Joe and Val and, when they come, those of Hoss. »

“But my mother? »

“That one, she will pay his greed and coldness of heart. As soon as we in Virginia City, I will write to my lawyer in New York and make him remove the management of my property. I will sell the family home and would install it and two monkeys, in a modest house they will only have to maintain themselves. Domestic finished! Ah, she laughed at our expense! That she would bite the fingers now. »

“Do not worry,” said Cindy in the ear of Adam, “I still have all the time traveling back to make him soften his sentence. »

Emu and admiration to the ability to forgive his fiancée, the Adam took her in his arms and kissed her passionately. Joe saw him, smiled, took Val to him and did the same, while Ben, Hoss and Valdemar were eclipsed on tiptoe.

                                                                                              END