He had scarce uttered the words, when a great noise was heard. The crowd parted violently, and in the space left free a horseman appeared, galloping at full speed: he held a woman on his horse's neck with one hand, while with the other he led a filly. At the sight of the horseman, the shouts and applause were redoubled, for everybody recognised Black-deer. On reaching the calli he leapt to the ground without uttering a syllable; then he drew his scalping knife and buried it in the neck of the filly. The poor brute gave a plaintive whining, trembled violently, and sank to the ground. The chief then turned it on its back, ripped open its chest, and tearing out the still quivering heart, he touched Bounding Fawn's forehead with it, while shouting in a voice loud enough to be heard by all the spectators. "This is my squaw; woe to the man who touches her." "I am his," the young wife then said. The official ceremony was over: Black-deer and Bounding Fawn were married according to the rites of Comanche law. All dismounted, and the marriage feast began. The white men, who were not very eager to eat their portion of this Indian meal, composed in great measure of dog, boiled milk, and horse's flesh, had drawn on one side and tried to escape unnoticed. Unfortunately Blackbird and Black-deer watched them, and cut off their retreat; hence they were compelled, whether they liked it or no, to sit down to the banquet. Tranquil, Loyal Heart, and their comrades made up their minds to the worst, and ate, or pretended to eat, with as good an appetite as the rest of the guests. The repast was prolonged till late in the day; for, though the Comanches do not drink spirits, and have not to fear intoxication, still, like all Indians, they are extraordinarily voracious, and eat till they can swallow no more. The whites had hard work in declining those provisions, of more or less suspicious appearance, which were constantly offered to do them honour. Still, thanks to their thorough knowledge of Indian habits, they managed to escape the greater part of the infliction and see out the truly Homeric banquet without much annoyance. At the moment when Loyal Heart and Tranquil rose to retire, Black-deer approached them. "Where are my brothers going?" he asked. "To my calli," Loyal Heart replied. "Good! Black-deer will join them there soon; he has to speak with his brothers on serious matters." "Let my brother remain with his friends, tomorrow will be time enough." The Chief frowned. "My brother Loyal Heart must be careful," he said; "I have to consult with him on matters of the utmost gravity." The hunter, struck by the Chiefs anxious air, looked at him with alarm. "What is the matter?" he asked him. "My brother will know in an hour." "Very good, Chief; I will await you in my calli." "Black-deer will come there." The Chief then withdrew, laying his finger on his lip, and the hunters went off deep in thought. CHAPTER X. RETURN TO LIFE.