his child smells."

"What?"

"I'm afeerd we mout fall in wi' Dacoma's niggurs on the back track;
that's what I'm afeerd on."

"True; it is most probable."

"It ur, unless they got overtuk in the kenyon; an I don't think it.
They understan' that crik too well."

The probability of Dacoma's band soon joining those of the head chief
was apparent to all, and cast a shadow of despondency over every face.
They were, no doubt, still in pursuit of us, and would soon arrive on
the ground.

"Now, cap," continued the trapper, "I've gi'n ye my notion o' things, if
so be we're boun' to fight; but I have my behopes we kin get back the
weemen 'ithout wastin' our gun-fodder."

"How? how?" eagerly inquired the chief and others.

"Why, jest this a-way," replied the trapper, almost irritating me with
the prolixity of his style. "'Ee see them Injuns on t'other side o' the
gulley?"

"Yes, yes," hastily replied Seguin.

"Wal; 'ee see these hyur?" and the speaker pointed to our captives.

"Yes, yes!"

"Wal; 'ee see them over yander, though thur hides be a coppery colour,
has feelin's for thur childer like white Christyuns. They eat 'em by
times, that's true; but thur's a releegius raison for that, not many
hyur understands, I reckin."

"And what would you have us do?"

"Why, jest heist a bit o' a white rag an' offer to swop pris'ners.
They'll understan' it, and come to tarms, I'll be boun'. That putty
leetle gal with the long har's head chief's darter, an' the rest belongs
to main men o' the tribe: I picked 'em for that. Besides, thur's Dacoma
an' the young queen. They'll bite thur nails off about them. 'Ee kin
give up the chief, and trade them out o' the queen best way ye kin."

"I will follow your advice," cried Seguin, his eye brightening with the
anticipation of a happy result.

"Thur's no time to be wasted, then, cap; if Dacoma's men makes thur
appearance, all I've been a-sayin' won't be worth the skin o' a
sand-rat."

"Not a moment shall be lost;" and Seguin gave orders to make ready the
flag of peace.

"It 'ud be better, cap, fust to gi' them a good sight o' what we've got.
They hain't seed Dacoma yet, nor the queen. Thur in the bushes."

"Right!" answered Seguin. "Comrades! bring forward the captives to the
edge of the barranca. Bring the Navajo chief. Bring the--my daughter!"

The men hurried to obey the command; and in a few minutes the captive
children, with Dacoma and the Mystery Queen, were le