ifteen minutes ago."

Knowing that he was not Thunderbolt, the youth was hopeful that it might
prove Jack; but it took only a minute to learn that Jersey was right.
The steed had been brought to the spot by one of the Comanches and was a
fine animal, though so much time passed before the Texan secured him
that he was simply prudent in not trying to follow after the red men,
who were far beyond reach.

Jersey laughed when Avon told him his errand, but said he would not be
much surprised if he was successful, for the reasons which have been
already stated.

There had been hot work in the bush, for when the cattlemen charged the
Comanches, they did so with all the vigor of their nature. These Indians
were among the most persistent thieves in Texas, and, as the reader
knows, the man who attempts to run off another's cattle or horses
commits a more flagrant crime in that section of our Union than he does
when he seeks the owners' lives.

Avon bore to the left, leaving the principal theatre of the scrimmage,
and had not reached the border of the mesquite when he almost stumbled
over a fine horse that lay on its side, without a particle of life.

"I wonder whether that is Thunderbolt," he said, with a feeling of
dread, as he bent over to examine the body.

Drawing a rubber safe from his pocket, he struck a match, and by the
tiny flame looked at the head and side of the dead steed.

One scrutinizing glance was enough; the body was not that of his own
favorite, but of Jack, belonging to his uncle.

"Poor Jack!" murmured the youth with a thrill of sympathy, "you have
been on many a stirring campaign, but you will go on no more. I wonder
how it was you met your death."

It looked as if the mustang had been stricken by a stray shot, that may
have been fired by a friend, for it was not to be supposed that a
Comanche would have killed him purposely, when he would have been a
valuable prize.

The bridle and saddle were in the cabin, so that the owner had simply
lost one of his horses, his supply of extra ones being sufficient to
replace him without trouble.

"I am afraid there is little chance of finding Thunderbolt alive," added
the youth, as he resumed his search.

He made his way through the bush with the utmost care, for, although the
Indians had been sharply repulsed, he was aware of the custom of those
people, when any of their number are killed or wounded. The survivors
put forth every exertion to take them away