It was to desist from their threatening strife and extinguish the flames that still flared up over the waggons.
He who spoke was the one with the red cross upon his breast, its bars of bright vermilion gleaming like fire against the sombre background of his skin.

He was the chief of the Tenawa Comanches--the Horned Lizard--as Wilder had justly conjectured.
And as their chief he was instantly obeyed.

The wranglers, one and all, promptly suspended their disputes; and flinging their weapons aside, at once set to carrying out his orders.
Seizing upon the shovels, late dropped from the hands of their now lifeless antagonists, and plying them to better purpose, they soon smothered the flame, and the smoke too, till only a thin drift stole up through the sand thrown thickly over it.
Meanwhile a man, in appearance somewhat differing from the rest, was seen moving among them.
Indian in garb and guise, savage in his accoutrements, as the colour of his skin, he nevertheless, showed features more resembling races that are civilised.

His countenance was of a cast apparently Caucasian, its lineaments unlike those of the American aboriginal; above all, unlike in his having a heavy beard, growing well forward upon his cheeks, and bushing down below the chin.
True, that among the Comanche Indians bearded men are occasionally met with--_mestizos_, the descendants of renegade whites.

But none paraded as he, who now appeared stalking around the ruined caravan.