"_Hijo de Dios_!" exclaimed he, as his eyes fell upon the cross, "_la crucifixion_! What a conception for savages! _Mira_!" he continued, as another white cloud puffed out from behind the sloping side of the mound, and the report of a musket came booming up the valley, "_Santissima_! they are firing at the unfortunate!" "Yes," said I; "they are playing with one of my comrades, as they did yesterday with myself." "Ah, _mio amigo_! that is an old game of the Arapahoes. They used to practise it with their arrows, and for mere sport. Now that they have taken to guns, I suppose they combine instruction with amusement, as the books say. _Carrambo_! what cruel brutes they are! They have no more humanity than a grizzly bear. God help the poor wretch that falls into their clutches! Their captive women they treat with a barbarity unknown among other tribes. Even beauty, that would soften a savage of any other sort, is not regarded by these brutal Arapahoes. Only think of it! They were about to treat in this very fashion the beautiful _Americana_--the only difference being that they had strapped her to a tree instead of a crucifix. _Carrai-i_!" "The beautiful Americana?" "_Yes_--she who brought you to the camp." "What! She in the hands of the Arapahoes?" "_Sin duda_; it was from them she was taken." "When, and where? How, and by whom?" "_Hola! hombre_--four questions at once! _Muy bien_! I can answer them, if you give me time. To the first, I should say about six months ago. To the second, near the Big Timbers, on the Arkansas. My reply to the third will require more words; and before giving it, I shall answer the fourth by saying that the girl was taken from the Rapahoes by Don Jose." "Don Jose--who is Don Jose?" "Oh! perhaps you would know him by his American name--Oaquer?" "Walker, the celebrated trapper? Joe Walker?" "The same, _amigo_. Oaquara, the Utahs pronounce it. As you perceive, their young chief is named so, and after him. The trapper and he were sworn friends--brothers--or more like father and son: since Don Jose was much the older." "_Were_ friends. Are they not so still?" "_Valga me dios_! No. That is no longer possible. Don Jose has gone under--was rubbed out more than three months ago, and by these very Rapahoes! That is why your fair _conpaisana_ is now with the Utahs. The old trapper left her to his namesake Oaquara--under whose protection she has been ever since." "He has been true to his trust? He _has_ protected her?" Under the influence of singular emotions did these questions escape me.