CHAPTER II. 



THE next morning, Killbuck's leg was greatly inflamed, 

 and he was unable to leave the lodge ; but he made his 

 companion bring the old mule to the door, that he 

 might give her a couple of ears of Indian corn, the last 

 remains of the slender store brought by the Indians 

 from the Navajo country. The day passed, and sun- 

 down brought no tidings of the war-party. This caused 

 no little wailing on the part of the squaws, but was 

 interpreted by the whites as a favourable augury. A 

 little after sunrise, on the second moniing, the long 

 line of the returning warriors was discerned winding 

 over tLa prairie, and a scout having galloped in to bring 

 the news of a great victory, the whole village was soon 

 in a ferment of paint and drumming. A short distance 

 from the lodges, the warriors halted to await the approach 

 of the people. Old men, children, and squaws sitting 

 astride their horses, sallied out to escort the victorious 

 party in triumph to the village. With loud shouts and 

 songs, and drums beating the monotonous Indian 

 time, they advanced and encircled the returning braves, 

 one of whom, his fated covered with black paint, carried 

 a pole on which dangled thirteen scalps, the trophies of 

 the expedition. As he lifted these on high, they were 



