were stretched a number of well-dressed
buffalo robes, sewn tightly together and perfectly water-proof. The
point where the ends of the poles protruded was left open to allow the
smoke to escape. On one side was the entrance closed by a door, also of
buffalo hide. The fire was made in the centre, immediately under the
aperture. In cold weather the Indians slept on buffalo rugs, with their
feet towards the fire, and these rugs were rolled up during the day and
placed at the back of the lodge.

The women had all the work of putting up the lodges. We watched the
poor creatures taking them down again, rolling up the skins, and placing
them on bars near the lower ends of the poles, which trailed on the
ground, the upper ends being secured half on each side of the horses.
The young squaws and children were mounted on the horses, while the
older had to toil along on foot often with loads on their backs.
Besides horses, our friends had a number of dogs which were employed in
drawing loads on small sledges, and very hard work they must have found
it in summer. They had also other dogs of a smaller species which were
reserved for food when buffalo meat was not to be obtained.

For three days we travelled on in their company, when the scouts brought
word that a large herd of buffaloes were feeding a few leagues off to
the southwest. Our friends immediately encamped and prepared to set off
in chase, trusting that the Coomanches, after the signal defeat they had
received, would not attack them. We should have been glad of an excuse
for separating from our friends; but as we wished to see more of their
mode of hunting the buffalo, we agreed to accompany them. Charley, I
was glad to see, was as well able to sit his horse as before, and he
declared that he was ready to undergo any amount of fatigue. According
to our custom, we kept as much together as possible; but we endeavoured
not to show that we doubted the honest intentions of the Indians.

Occasionally the Yellow Wolf, getting off his horse, put his ear to the
ground to listen, as he said "for the feet of the buffalo."

At length, quickly mounting, he exclaimed that he heard them and that we
should soon come in sight of the herd. We therefore pushed rapidly
forward; and, reaching the top of a slight rising, we saw a large number
of black dots scattered over the plain. To the right, on one side of
where the buffalo were feeding, was a smaller elevation to that on whi