The Outlying Pickets of the New World

           Ourfriendsathomemaywellrejoicewithus,forweareatourgoal,anduptoapoint,atleast,wehaveshownthatthestatementofProfessorChallengercanbeverified.Wehavenot,itistrue,ascendedtheplateau,butitliesbeforeus,andevenProfessorSummerleeisinamorechastenedmood.Notthathewillforaninstantadmitthathisrivalcouldberight,butheislesspersistentinhisincessantobjections,andhassunkforthemostpartintoanobservantsilence.Imustharkback,however,andcontinuemynarrativefromwhereIdroppedit.WearesendinghomeoneofourlocalIndianswhoisinjured,andIamcommittingthislettertohischarge,withconsiderabledoubtsinmymindastowhetheritwillevercometohand.

           WhenIwrotelastwewereabouttoleavetheIndianvillagewherewehadbeendepositedbytheEsmeralda.Ihavetobeginmyreportbybadnews,forthefirstseriouspersonaltrouble(IpassovertheincessantbickeringsbetweentheProfessors)occurredthisevening,andmighthavehadatragicending.IhavespokenofourEnglish-speakinghalf-breed,Gomez—afineworkerandawillingfellow,butafflicted,Ifancy,withtheviceofcuriosity,whichiscommonenoughamongsuchmen.Onthelasteveningheseemstohavehidhimselfnearthehutinwhichwewerediscussingourplans,and,beingobservedbyourhugenegroZambo,whoisasfaithfulasadogandhasthehatredwhichallhisracebeartothehalf-breeds,hewasdraggedoutandcarriedintoourpresence.Gomezwhippedouthisknife,however,andbutforthehugestrengthofhiscaptor,whichenabledhimtodisarmhimwithonehand,hewouldcertainlyhavestabbedhim.Thematterhasendedinreprimands,theopponentshavebeencompelledtoshakehands,andthereiseveryhopethatallwillbewell.Astothefeudsofthetwolearnedmen,theyarecontinuousandbitter.ItmustbeadmittedthatChallengerisprovocativeinthelastdegree,butSummerleehasanacidtongue,whichmakesmattersworse.