ocks; while the Wacoes, who had, no doubt, been
taken by surprise, were many of them in hunting-shirts and leggings.
Some, however, were nearly as naked as their adversaries; but easily
distinguished from them by their full flowing hair.

The first impulse of the cibolero was to gallop forward and mingle in
the fight,--of course, taking side with the Wacoes. The sound of the
conflict roused his blood, and the sight of the robbers who had so
lately ruined him rendered him eager for revenge. Many of them were
mounted upon the very mules they had taken from him, and Carlos was
determined to have some of them back again.

He was about to put spurs to his horse, and dash forward, when a sudden
change seemed to occur in the conflict that decided him to remain where
he was. The Panes were giving way!

Many of them were seen wheeling out of the plain, and taking to flight.

As Carlos looked down the hill, he saw three of the Pane warriors in
full run, making up to the spot where he stood. Most of the band were
still fighting, or had fled in a different direction; but these, cut off
from the rest, came directly up the hill at a gallop.

The cibolero had drawn his horse under the cover of some trees, and was
not perceived by them until they were close to the spot.

At this moment the war-cry of the Wacoes was heard directly in their
rear, and Carlos saw that two mounted warriors of that tribe were in
pursuit. The fugitives looked back, and, seeing only two adversarios
after them, once more wheeled round and gave fight.

At their first charge one of the pursuers was killed, and the other--
whom Carlos now recognised as the Waco chief--was left alone against
three assailants.

The whip-like crack of the cibolero's rifle sounded on the air, and one
of the Panes dropped out of his saddle. The other two, ignorant of
whence the shot had come, continued their onset on the Waco chief, who,
dashing close up, split the skull of one of there with his tomahawk.
His horse, however, bore him rapidly past, and before he could wheel
round, the remaining Pane--an active warrior--rushed after and thrust
his long spear into the back of the chief. Its head passed clear
through his body, completely impaling him; and with a death-whoop, the
noble Indian fell from his horse to the ground.

But his enemy fell at the same time. The arrow of the cibolero was too
late to save, though not to avenge, the Waco's fall. It pierced the
Pane ju