o is the young warrior with the white circle upon his breast?
He is a pale-face. It is not the custom of our white brothers to adorn
themselves in such fashion?"

"The painting is not his," replied the girl. "It has been done by the
hands of his enemies--by red men. The white circle was designed for a
mark, at which many bullets have been fired. The red streaks you see
are blood, that has streamed from wounds inflicted on the stranger's
body! When Wa-ka-ra shall know who caused that blood to flow, he will
hasten to avenge it."

"If it be the wish of the white huntress, Wa-ka-ra will avenge the
blood--even though his own people may have spilled it. Speak,
Ma-ra-nee! You say that red men have done this--were they Utahs?"

"No; but the enemies of the Utahs."

"The Utahs have many enemies--on the north, south, east, and west they
have foes. Whence comes the stranger? and who has been spilling his
blood?"

"From the east--from the _Arapahoes_."

"Ugh!" exclaimed the chief, with a start, his countenance suddenly
becoming clouded with an angry expression. "Arapahoes! Where has the
pale-face encountered the Arapahoes?"

"On the Huerfano."

"Good; the white huntress brings news that will gladden the hearts of
the Utah warriors! Arapahoes on the Huerfano! who has seen them there?"
The huntress replied by pointing to me. "He has been their captive,"
she added, "and has just escaped from them. He can guide Wa-ka-ra to
their camp, where the Utah chief will find his deadliest enemy--
Red-Hand."

At the mention of this name, the cloud that was gathering upon the brow
of the Utah chief became darker by several shades, and the mild
expression was no longer observable. In its place was a look of fierce
resolve, blended with glances that spoke a savage joy. Some old and
terrible resentment was rekindled by the name--with a hope, no doubt, of
its being gratified?

The chief now entered upon a series of interrogatories directed to
myself. He spoke English--thanks to his trapper associations: and it
was in this language he had been conversing with the huntress. His
inquiries were directed to such particulars as might put him in
possession of the necessary knowledge for an attack upon the Arapahoes.
As concisely as possible, I made known their position and numbers--with
other circumstances calculated to aid in the design. The account I gave
seemed to gratify him. As soon as our dialogue was ended, I had the
sa