"How happy are those who have mothers!" murmured Belhumeur, stifling a sigh, and looking after the two women, who disappeared in the shade of the grotto.
All at once the Indian sentinels uttered a cry, which was immediately repeated by a man placed in front of the council lodge.
At this signal the Comanche chiefs arose and left the hut in which they were assembled.
The hunters and Indian warriors seized their arms, ranged themselves on either side of the grotto, and waited.
A cloud of dust rolled towards the camp with great rapidity, but was soon dispersed, and revealed a troop of horsemen riding at full speed. These horsemen, for the most part, wore the costume of Mexican gambusinos.
At their head, upon a magnificent horse, black as night, came a man whom all immediately recognized.
This was Captain Waktehno, who came audaciously at the head of his troop, to claim the fulfilment of the odious bargain he had imposed three days before.
Generally, in the prairies, when two troops meet, or when warriors or hunters visit a village, it is the custom to execute a sort of fantasia, by rushing full speed towards each other, yelling and firing off guns.
On this occasion, however, nothing of the kind took place.
The Comanches and the hunters remained motionless and silent, awaiting the arrival of the pirates.