they took shelter until
the next morning. They were here joined by two other chance travellers,
who must indeed have been rough specimens of humanity. Crockett says
that though he had often seen men who had not advanced far over the
line of civilization, these were the coarsest samples he had ever met.

One proved to be an old pirate, about fifty years of age. He was tall,
bony, and in aspect seemed scarcely human. The shaggy hair of his
whiskers and beard covered nearly his whole face. He had on a sailor's
round jacket and tarpaulin hat. The deep scar, apparently of a sword
cut, deformed his forehead, and another similar scar was on the back of
one of his hands. His companion was a young Indian, wild as the wolves,
bareheaded, and with scanty deerskin dress.

Early the next morning they all resumed their journey, the two
strangers following on foot. Their path led over the smooth and
treeless prairie, as beautiful in its verdure and its flowers as the
most cultivated park could possibly be. About noon they stopped to
refresh their horses and dine beneath a cluster of trees in the open
prairie. They had built their fire, were cooking their game, and were
all seated upon the grass, chatting very sociably, when the bee-hunter
saw a bee, which indicated that a hive of honey might be found not far
distant. He leaped upon his mustang, and without saying a word,
"started off like mad," and scoured along the prairie. "We watched
him," says Crockett, "until he seemed no larger than a rat, and finally
disappeared in the distance."

CHAPTER XII.

Adventures on the Prairie.

Disappearance of the Bee Hunter.--The Herd of Buffalo Crockett
lost.--The Fight with the Cougar.--Approach of Savages.--Their
Friendliness.--Picnic on the Prairie.--Picturesque Scene.--The Lost
Mustang recovered.--Unexpected Reunion.--Departure of the
Savages.--Skirmish with the Mexicans.--Arrival at the Alamo.

Soon after the bee-hunter had disappeared, all were startled by a
strange sound, as of distant thunder. It was one of the most beautiful
of summer days. There was not a cloud to be seen. The undulating
prairie, waving with flowers, lay spread out before them, more
beautiful under nature's bountiful adornings than the most artistic
parterre, park or lawn which the hand of man ever reared. A gentle,
cool breeze swept through the grove, fragrant and refreshing as if from
Araby the blest. It was just one of those scenes and one of those hour