he banks of
the Rio Bravo to the sierras of Alta California. It was _Walker_--the
war-chief of the Utahs--the friend of the celebrated trapper, whose name
he had adopted; and which, by the modification of Utah orthoepy, had
become _Wa-ka-ra_.

An odd individual--a very odd one--was standing beside the chief as I
rode up. He appeared to be a Mexican, to judge by his costume and the
colour of his skin. The former consisted of _jaqueta_ and _calzoneros_
of dark-coloured velveteen, surmounted by a broad-brimmed _sombrero_ of
black glaze; while the complexion, although swarthy, was several shades
lighter than that of the Indian. He was a man of diminutive stature,
and with a countenance of a serio-comical cast. An expression of this
kind pervaded his whole person--features and figure included--and was
heightened by the presence of a singular accoutrement that hung
suspended from his leathern waist-belt. It was a piece of timber some
eighteen inches in length, and looking like the section of a boot-tree,
or the half of a wooden milk-yoke. At the thick end was a concavity or
socket, with straps, by which it was attached to the belt; and this
singular apparatus, hanging down over his thigh, added to the grotesque
appearance of its owner. The little Mexican had all the cut of a
"character;" and he was one, as I afterwards ascertained. He was no
other than the famous Pedro Archilete--or "Peg-leg," as his comrades
called him--a trapper of Taos, and one of the most expert and fearless
of that fearless fraternity.

The odd accoutrement which had puzzled me was nothing more than an
artificial leg! It was an implement, however, he only used upon
occasions--whenever the natural one--the ankle of which had been damaged
by some accident--gave out through the fatigue of a march. At other
times he carried the wooden leg, as I first saw it, suspended from his
belt!

His presence in the Indian encampment was easily accounted for. He was
in alliance with their chief: for the Utahs were at that time _en paz_
with the settlements of the Taos Valley; and the Spanish trappers and
traders went freely among them. Peg-leg had been on a trapping
expedition to the Parks; and having fallen in with the Utahs, had become
the guest of Wa-ka-ra.

CHAPTER SEVENTY THREE.

PEG-LEG.

"The huntress has returned soon?" said the chief, interrogatively, as
the girl glided up to him. "She brings strange game!" added he, with a
smile. "Wh