inest
horsemen in the world. Always wandering about over the boundless
prairies, where wild horses are found in countless numbers, they are
ever on horseback, men, women, and children. Even infants, almost in
their earliest years, are taught to cling to the mane of the horse.
Thus the Comanche obtains the absolute control of the animal; and when
scouring over the plain, bareheaded and with scanty dress, the horse
and rider seem veritably like one person.

The Comanches were armed only with bows and arrows. The herd early took
fright, and fled with such speed that the somewhat exhausted horses of
the Comanches could not get within arrow-shot of them. Crockett,
however, being well mounted and unsurpassed by any Indian in the arts
of hunting, selected a fat young heifer, which he knew would furnish
tender steaks, and with his deadly bullet struck it down. This was the
only beef that was killed. All the rest of the herd escaped.

The Indians gathered around the slain animal for their feast. With
their sharp knives the heifer was soon skinned and cut up into savory
steaks and roasting-pieces. Two or three fires were built. The horses
were hobbled and turned loose to graze. Every one of the Indians
selected his own portion, and all were soon merrily and even
affectionately engaged in this picnic feast, beneath skies which Italy
never rivalled, and surrounded with the loveliness of a park surpassing
the highest creations of art in London, Paris, or New York.

The Indians were quite delighted with their guest. He told them stories
of his wild hunting excursions, and of his encounters with panthers and
bears. They were charmed by his narratives, and they sat eager
listeners until late into the night, beneath the stars and around the
glowing camp-fires. Then, wrapped in their blankets, they threw
themselves down on the thick green grass and slept. Such are the joys
of peace and friendship.

They resumed their journey in the morning, and pressed along, with
nothing of special interest occurring until they reached the Colorado
River. As they were following down this stream, to strike the road
which leads to Bexar, they saw in the distance a single column of smoke
ascending the clear sky. Hastening toward it, they found that it rose
from the centre of a small grove near the river. When within a few
hundred yards the warriors extended their line, so as nearly to
encircle the grove, while the chief and Crockett advanced cautiously