"I say we go look for him again!"

"What?! You said yourself that Peter would be alright here. And besides, we already looked for him once!"

Mike and George (who was now being called Micky) were discussing the formation of another search party. Mike was all for it, but Micky assumed that Peter was lost for good.

"But, Micky, sir, Peter was valued here on this mission," Mike said. "His know how and experience."

"I thought we had you for that too!" Micky retorted.

"Yes, that's true, but Micky, Peter was our friend. We just can't leave him without knowing some answers. What if he's dead?"

"That could be a possibility."

"And you want to just forget about him?!"

"Alright! Let it be. You may form a search party."

Mike was overjoyed to hear this news. Quickly he and David gathered supplies for the journey. As they were getting ready to leave, Micky joined them.

"Why did you come?" Mike asked.

"I don't want to lose any more men." Micky replied.

At the rising of the Potomac sun, the three men set out to find Captain Peter. After only a few hours, they were in despair.

"I feel that we have been walking in circles!" David said.

"I know," Mike replied, "But, I think I see a clearing up ahead."

Sure enough, there was an open area, with a large wooden statue at the head of it. This puzzled the men, but they continued on. Soon they had arrived at a small village.

"It's a savage village!!" Micky timidly said.

"Maybe they killed Peter and ate him up!"

"Maybe they aren't savages." Mike calmly said.

"Maybe they know where he is."

Miracle had gotten up earlier than usual that day. Peter was sleeping. She loved looking at his calm, childlike face. She left the little hut and walked around the village, thanking the spirits for this gift she had received. When she returned to the hut, Peter was awake.

"Good morning!" Peter said cheerfully.

"Good morning Peter." Miracle sweetly replied.

"Peter, I feel strange."

"Why? Is something wrong?"

"I'm not sure. I feel like something is about to happen."

"What?"

No sooner had Peter said this than loud screams and howls came from outside their hut. Quickly they got up and saw the men of the village attacking something.

"What could it be?" Peter asked.

"Let me see!!" Miracle cried out to the men.

A small opening in between the men formed. There Miracle saw three men, tied to wooden stakes and gagged. Peter ran up to join her.

"Mike!"

"Who?" Miracle questioned.

"It's Mike and David and George! My friends!" Peter happily replied, hugging Miracle.

"Let them go!!" Miracle called out.

In a few minutes, Mike, David, and Micky were released and they all went to Peter and Miracle's hut. There Peter told the story of how he and Miracle came together.

"And she speaks English?" Micky said, puzzled.

"Yes, I do George." Miracle happily replied.

"Oh, I see. Call me Micky."

Peter was happy to have his friends back with him. But as he looked at them, they didn't seem happy about the situation. After Miracle left to prepare dinner, Peter asked them about it.

"Guys, what do you think of Miracle?"

"She's pleasant." David said.

"Is that all?"

Mike, who understood Peter the best replied:

"You are very lucky to have her Peter."

"Lucky?" Micky said. "Yes, he's lucky if he wants to die!"

"MICKY??" What are you saying?"

"What I'm saying is Peter, is that she can NOT be trusted!"

"And why not?"

"She's a savage."

"What do you guys think?"

David and Mike just sat there, silently looking down at the ground.

"Oh, I see," Peter said, "You all think that she will turn her back on me and kill me for her people. Well, I'll tell you one thing, she and her people are a lot friendlier and hospitable to me than England ever was!"

"How could you say that Peter." Micky angrily replied.

"It's--the--truth."

"Fine then. I, Sir George Dolenz, head of this settlement, do accuse you, Captain Peter Tork of treason to the crown!"

Peter stood there, emotionless.

"Therefore, you are to appear in a trial, headed over by myself and Lord David Jones, as to what your punishment will be."

"Micky--you can't do this to Peter." Mike said.

"Mike, I have to. It is my duty. As much as I hate it."

Peter understood as well. He knew he could face death, or having to go back to England. But, he did know he had to go back to the camp.

"Leave me please guys." Peter softly said.

"I have to tell Miracle."

"No! Peter, you can't!"

Miracle laid her head on Peter's lap, her eyes filled with tears.

"I have to. There's nothing I can do."

"Then I am going with you. I will leave here."

"Are you sure your father will let you."

"It is my choice, not his."

Miracle and Peter and went to her father's hut. 'I must be strong and firm' she thought. She told her father of what was going to happen. Then, her mouth spoke her heart.

"I'm going with him."

"Miracle, my dear, you cannot."

"Why?"

"The ways of this man are strange to us. You do not belong there."

Her father looked straight into Peter's eyes.

"But father, if this man is the one the spirits say I am meant to be with, then why are you questioning me?"

Peter just looked on, as if this was a choice between life or death.

"My dear one, the time has come for me to tell you something."

"What?"

"The spirits say that the true one must be tested to see if he is your destiny. I was waiting for the sign to come. Here it is. Now, he must be tested."

Tears started swelling up in Miracle's eyes. She knew what her father meant.

"Yes father," she said, "As the spirits wish."

"Then tomorrow, at the rise of the sun, the first test shall begin."

Miracle and Peter returned to their hut. Miracle was trying as hard as she could not to cry in front of Peter.

"What kind of tests will there be?" Peter asked.

"Tests of will, courage, and knowledge." Miracle replied, a tear in her throat.

"Don't worry Miracle. I am meant for you. And I will do whatever it takes to keep you forever."