But two of our party were injured--and they slightly--by arrows. Upon reaching camp their wounds were carefully dressed; after which we partook of a slight lunch, and were ready to start for our camp on the banks of the Nucces, when Don Ignacio came to me, saying, that, as his presence was really very necessary in camp, with my permission, he would take his men--leaving enough behind to a.s.sist in driving the stock--and hurry on.

This would not inconvenience us, and enable him to arrive in camp several hours earlier than ourselves.

Jerry at once acquiesced in the arrangement, saying that three men, besides ourselves, would be all we should require.

Don Ignacio detailed that number to remain with us; and, with the balance of the party, left us.

We made very fair progress during the night; and, when morning dawned, were a long distance on our road.

An hour or two after daylight, old Jerry's keen eye detected, upon an elevation in the distance, a party of three Comanches. We were in hope that they would not discover us at first; but it soon became evident that they had seen us, for one of their number turned and rode towards us, waving a blanket in the air. This, Jerry said, was indicative of a desire for a parley.

After a short conference together, Jerry decided it was better for us to ride out and meet the party, rather than permit them to join us.

We accordingly prepared for the expedition, giving the Mexicans instructions to proceed quietly with the stock.

As we approached the Indians, their leader, an old man apparantly about sixty years of age, with a singularly cunning and wicked looking countenance, came towards us and extended his hand for a shake; while, with much solemnity, he announced himself as _Cuchillo_, a Comanche chief, and a great friend of the whites.

While Jerry was conversing with the old fellow in Spanish, I made myself familiar with the general appearance of the party. They were dressed each with a buffalo rug thrown over his left shoulder in such a manner as to allow it to sweep the ground behind him. They wore moccasins on their feet, made of buckskin, with a heavy fringe or ta.s.sels pendant from the seam behind, long enough to permit it to drag upon the ground. These, with leggins made from a piece of blanket, which was wrapped about the leg below the knee and fastened with a thong of buckskin, heavily fringed, and the breechcloth, completed the dress.

Each was painted in a most hideous manner, in ochre and vermilion mixed with a whitish clay.

Cuchillo shortly produced a well-worn greasy paper from a small bag he wore around his neck, which he handed me, making a sign that I was to read it.

It was as follows:--

"The Bearer, Cuchillo, is a Comanche Chief, who says he is a friend of the White's. My advice is not to Trust him, or any other sneakin' varmint like him. BILL POPE."

I handed the paper to Jerry; who, after reading it, gave it back to its owner with the remark, it was _muncho bueno_, or very good.

The chief received it with a smile; and, as he returned it to the little bag, remarked,--

"Very good, _me bueno amigo_" (good friend).

"P'raps yer be," remarked Jerry, in English, "but yer ain't ther sort I hanker arter. I reckon we may as well shake hands, old feller, 'cause we must be a-goin', an' you an' me hain't got no use for one another, no how."

But our Comanche friends were not to be shaken off, so easily; for, even after bidding them good by, Cuchillo insisted upon accompanying us; and, rather than betray any fear, or show that we distrusted him, Jerry was obliged to make a virtue of necessity, and a.s.sent to the proposition with as good a grace as possible.

It was evident that curiosity at least was one of the motives that actuated the Indians; for, upon overtaking our herd, they looked about them, evidently expecting to see a larger party with us, and expressing surprise at the quant.i.ty of stock we were driving.

Jerry informed them that we had a large company a few hours' ride to the north; and had been out purchasing some stock from another party, who were encamped to the south of us a few miles.

This information seemed to cause them some surprise; for they asked many questions concerning the strength of this last party, its destination, etc., all of which Jerry answered in a straightforward manner, to their evident satisfaction.

Cuchillo was very curious in regard to our revolvers,--of which each man in our party had two, in addition to his rifle,--and at last we determined to show them that we were well armed, and ready for any emergency. I set up a small mark at the distance of sixty or seventy feet; and Jerry immediately emptied, in rapid succession, the contents of both revolvers, without stopping to reload. This caused the greatest astonishment; and, in a short time, they began to manifest a disposition to leave. With many professions of friendship, Jerry endeavored to persuade them to accompany us to our camp; but they declined, promising to visit us on the morrow; and, after a most affectionate farewell, Cuchillo and his braves left us, riding towards the south-west.

"There," exclaimed Jerry, as soon as they were fairly off, "ef there don't go as sneakin' a varmint as there is in the whole Comanche nation, I'll lose my guess. They'll go for that air camp to the southward, expectin' to find some greenhorns; and I only hope they may find 'em. The thing for us to do is to git our cattle into camp ez soon as possible. We kin hurry 'em some, and I reckon we'd better do it."

We made good progress for a couple of hours; and, on reaching the top of a "divide," saw a large emigrant wagon drawn by three yoke of oxen, slowly making its way through the tall bottom gra.s.s of the valley beneath us, surrounded by quite a number of men on horseback.

"Hurrah!" cried Jerry, "there's friends. This is the fust party we've seen out on the plains since we left San Antonio. We mustn't let 'em go by without overhaulin' 'em."

We soon came up with them; and they proved to be Capt. Blodget and four companions from Missouri, on the way to Fort Davis, accompanied by an Arapahoe Indian as guide.

We were, of course, delighted to meet with Americans, and eagerly questioned them as to their adventures on the road; but they had seen no Indians; having, by the advice of their guide, kept a few miles away from the main travelled route, on account of there being less liability of meeting the prowling bands, who generally followed the course of the road, in expectation of more successfully conducting their thieving operations.

We soon parted with our new friends, and set out once more on our way to the Nueces.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Missourians.]

CHAPTER III

Our arrival in camp, during the afternoon, was the signal for a general rejoicing among the men, who loudly applauded the determination and pluck shown by Jerry in pursuing and overtaking the thieves.

My first inquiry was for Hal and Ned, and was told that they had gone out after a flock of wild turkeys that had been heard clucking in the pecan trees, not far from camp. They had taken their guns with them, and expected to be back by noon.

Thinking they would soon return, I went over to consult with Don Ignacio about resuming our journey; but, as the water and gra.s.s were much better where we then were than at the next stopping-place, the California Springs, it was decided to remain encamped until morning.

Accepting an invitation to dine with Don Ignacio. I did not return to my own camp until about five o'clock, when I learned, to my surprise, that the boys had not put in an appearance.

Calling Jerry, I asked if he supposed any accident could have befallen them.

His reply was, "No: they had their rifles and revolvers with 'em, and they ain't likely to meet with nothin' bigger 'n an antelope. They ought to be able to take keer of themselves, specially as the biggest one ain't afraid of Injuns, no how."

"That may be true," replied I; "but they are boys, Jerry, and I think we ought to start at once in search of them. I feel confident, if nothing had happened, they would have returned before this."

"Boys ain't nothin' but a nuisance, no how, and hain't no business travlin' on the plains. Howsoever, I'll hev a couple of critters ketched up and saddled, and we'll see if we kin strike their trail," said Jerry.

The mules were immediately brought up, and Jerry and myself mounted, and set out in pursuit of the wanderers. In a short time we struck their trail, which led through the underbrush and bottom gra.s.s, along the banks of the river for a mile or more, and then turned in the direction of a large post-oak opening, three or four miles away.

The trail led us directly into the grove, where we were obliged to dismount, as the low, scraggy branches would not permit our riding beneath them. Securing our animals, we followed the trail on foot for some distance, when Jerry called my attention to a number of fresh tracks in the earth.

"Antelope tracks," said I.

"No they ain't neither; you must guess again. Them's _havilina_ tracks."

"What are they?" inquired I.

"Them's hogs," replied Jerry; "wild Mexican hogs, and the darndest, ugliest critters on the plains, ef you git 'em riled. I'd rather meet a dozen Comanches, as far as comfort's concarned, any time, than a drove of them critters. Yer see this's their feedin' ground, and I 'spect I know where ter find them boys."

"Where?" inquired I.

"Up a tree," replied Jerry. I reckon they're treed this time, sartin; an'

good enough for 'em. Boys hain't got no bizness on the plains, no how."

"Well, Jerry, I brought the boys with me, and I calculate to take care of them, if possible," was my reply.

"All right, judge; you'll hev your hands full, I reckon. I'll help you so fur's I'm able; but don't depend too much on me, fur boys hain't got no bizness on the plains, no how."