"I crave your pardon," Black Elk replied; "but we have to deal with a strong body. The pirates, who know they have no pity to look for, fight like so many tigers. The more numerous we are, the better will be our chance of success." "That is true; but what do you aim at?" "At this--since you have made, in our name, peace with the Indians, it could be so managed that they----" "By Heavens! you are right, Black Elk," Loyal Heart interrupted him, eagerly. "I did not think of that. The Indian warriors will be delighted at the opportunity we shall offer them of showing their valour. They will joyfully assist us in our expedition. I take upon myself to persuade them. Follow me, all of you. I will present you to my new friends." The trappers drew together, and formed a compact band of forty men. Arms were reversed, in sign of peace, and all, following the steps of the hunter, directed their course towards the camp of the Comanches. "And my mother?" Loyal Heart asked Eusebio, with a broken voice. "She is in safety in the hatto of Black Elk." "And how is she?" "As well as you could expect, though suffering from great uneasiness," the old man replied. "Your mother is a woman who only lives by the heart. She is endowed with immense courage, the greatest physical pains glide over her. She now feels but slightly the effects of the atrocious tortures she had begun to undergo." "God be praised! But she must no longer be left in these mortal doubts; where is your horse?" "Hidden, close by." "Mount, and return to my mother. Assure her of my safety, and then both of you retire to the grotto of Verdigris, where she will be out of all danger. You will remain with her. That grotto is easily found; it is situated at a small distance from the rock of the Dead Buffalo. When you get there, you have nothing to do but to let loose my rastreros, which I will leave you, and they will lead you straight to it. Do you clearly understand me?" "Perfectly." "Begone then. Here we are at the camp; your presence is useless here, whilst yonder it is indispensable." "I am gone!" "Adieu! we'll meet again." Nô Eusebio whistled the bloodhounds, which he leashed together; he then, after another shake of the hand with his young master, left the troop, turned to the right, and resumed the way to the forest. The hunters, in the meantime, arrived at the entrance of the glade in which the camp of the Indians was established. The Comanches formed, a few paces behind the first lines of their camp, a vast semicircle, in the centre of which stood their chiefs. To do honour to their newly-arrived friends, they had put on their handsomest costumes. They were painted and armed for war. Loyal Heart halted his troop, and continuing to march on alone, he unfolded a buffalo robe, which he waved before him. Eagle Head then quitted the other chiefs, and advanced on his part to meet the hunter, also waving a buffalo robe in sign of peace.