When a warrior had been on a successful war party against an enemy, he would paint his face black before coming back into his own camp. It became a sign of victory over their enemies. However, the more spiritual meaning behind the painting of the face black was that it was an outward sign of inward emotions - that the fires of anger and revenge that had been burning inside him had been extinguished, and that he was once again at peace inside. In other words, that his "fires burned out."