many were moody and silent. At length a bright-faced, light-headed
young recruit spoke out, seeing the silence and sadness around the
camp-fire. "I say, captain, that was a wretched red-skin of a chief
that you hauled in yesterday. He looked more like the Prince of
Darkness than the chief of a tribe. I thought once, cap'n, he had
you; and I was just ready to pick him off, when I saw you were
safe."

"Yes, Carlos, that was a close place, and but for a kind fate, I
should be sleeping with those brave fellows who have left us. Peace
to their resting-places."

"I was sorry you did not kill him; he deserved death. But how quick
he did surrender, when he saw you close in on him with your sword!
Ha! ha!"

"Yes, Mico is a bad, bad Indian, and has caused more trouble to this
settlement than all the other Indians combined. I guess he will
enjoy his freedom, when he gets it again. Confinement and chains are
worse than death to him."

"I tell you, cap'n, they are cowardly devils. They can't stand
gunpowder. At the very smell of it they run out from their
hiding-places, like so many rats from a burning building. I hated to
see one of them taken alive. It's not like fighting civilized
people; is it, cap'n? I am in favor of the black flag in a fight
with these red devils."

"War is war, Carlos, and brutalizes the most intelligent people on
earth, if they indulge in it. I trust our troubles are ended here,