at was painful to
witness.

But my eyes were fixed upon her I saw that she recovered from her swoon.
I saw the savage in hussar trappings dismount, and, lifting her in his
arms, carry her back upon the prairie.

I followed them with impotent gaze. I saw that he was paying her kind
attentions; and I almost thanked him, though I knew it was but the
selfish gallantry of the lover.

In a short while she rose to her feet again, and rushed back toward the
barranca. I heard my name uttered across the ravine. Hers was echoed
back; but at the moment both mother and daughter were surrounded by
their guards, and carried back.

Meanwhile, the white flag had been got ready, and Seguin, holding it
aloft, stood out in front. We remained silent, watching with eager
glances for the answer.

There was a movement among the clustered Indians. We heard their voices
in earnest talk, and saw that something was going on in their midst.

Presently, a tall, fine-looking man came out from the crowd, holding an
object in his left hand of a white colour. It was a bleached fawn-skin.
In his right hand he carried a lance.

We saw him place the fawn-skin on the blade of the lance, and stand
forward holding it aloft. Our signal of peace was answered.

"Silence, men!" cried Seguin, speaking to the hunters; and then, raising
his voice, he called aloud in the Indian language--

"Navajoes! you know whom we are. We have passed through your country,
and visited your head town. Our object was to search for our dear
relatives, who we knew were captives in your land. Some we have
recovered, but there are many others we could not find. That these
might be restored to us in time, we have taken hostages, as you see. We
might have brought away many more, but these we considered enough. We
have not burned your town; we have not harmed your wives, your
daughters, nor your children. With the exception of these, our
prisoners, you will find all as you left them."

A murmur ran through the ranks of the Indians. It was a murmur of
satisfaction. They had been under the full belief that their town was
destroyed and their women massacred; and the words of Seguin, therefore
produced a singular effect. We could hear joyful exclamations and
phrases interchanged among the warriors. Silence was again restored,
and Seguin continued--

"We see that you have been in our country. You have made captives as
well as we. You are red men. Red men can fe