ermilion made red man and white man
as like as need be; and for the hair, the black tail of a horse,
half-covered and confined by the great plumed bonnet, with its crest
dropping backward, is a disguise not to be detected. The proud savage
doffs his eagle plumes to no living man; and even the most intrusive
Mormon would not dare to scrutinise too closely the _coiffure_ of an
Indian warrior. The plan was rendered further practicable, by a new and
able ally enlisting himself into our ranks. This was the trapper,
Archilete, who, from a hint given him by the Utah chief, at once
volunteered to act as the guide. The Mexican had already conceived an
instinctive antipathy towards the Mormon "hereticos;" and we might rely
upon his fidelity to our cause. The scheme exactly suited the eccentric
character of this singular man; and he entered upon his duties _con
amore_, and at once. By his assistance we soon procured the required
costumes and pigments; but neither were to be "put on" in the presence
of the Utahs. It was necessary that Wa-ka-ra should not be compromised
by a too conspicuous "intervention."

The friendly chief had hinted a further promise to Marian--even an open
interference in our favour--should that become necessary. He would
follow close after the Mormon train; and, should our design prove a
failure, might _then use his influence_ on our behalf. This would have
been the best news of all. With such a prospect, we should have had
little to fear for the result; but alas! before leaving the ground, an
incident occurred that threatened to prevent our generous ally from
fulfilling that promise, however formally he might have made it.

CHAPTER NINETY.

PROTECTOR AND PROTEGEE.

The incident referred to was the arrival of a scout, who, after the
conflict, had followed upon the trail of the Arapahoes. This man
brought the intelligence that the scattered enemy had again collected--
that, while fleeing from the _rout_, they had met with a large war-party
of their own tribe--accompanied by another of their allies, the
Cheyennes; that both together formed a band of several hundred warriors;
and that they were now marching back towards the valley of the
Huerfano--to take revenge for the death of Red-Hand, and the defeat
which his party had sustained! This unexpected news brought the
scalp-dance to an abrupt termination; and changed the whole aspect of
the scene. The women, with loud cries, rushed towards the