Summary

Mustafa and his wife arrive in the town of Hawikuh, presumably acting as advance scouts for the Castillians. They warn the chief about the approaching white men and the dangers they pose. Mustafa wants them to spin a tale about how he, Mustafa, has been killed. His hope is that the dangerous lands won't seem worthwhile to the expedition, especially since he has been reporting that there is no gold to be found. Either way, he and his wife will leave the town the next day to start their lives. Mustafa wants stories to share with his son, so he decides to write a true account of everything that happened in his life.

The Indian chief, however, has had his ego and pride bruised by Mustafa's declarations and protests that he can defend his villages against the invaders. The book ends at this point...