retire, I cut him down with one stroke of my battle-axe, and added his
scalp to those we had already taken. By this time the enemy had nearly
surrounded us, which led me to believe that retreat would be our safest
course; so when night came we evacuated our fortress unperceived by our
enemies.

"They, deeming our escape impossible, were quietly resting, intending to
attack us with their whole force in the morning, and take our scalps at
all hazards. Moving with the stealth of the cougar, we proceeded along
the summit of a rocky cliff until we came to a ravine, through which we
descended to the plain below, which was here covered with heavy growth
of timber. We reached the spot where we had concealed our horses
without difficulty, and made the best of our way home. In order to avoid
hostile war parties we were obliged to take a roundabout course, and it
was not until the eighteenth day after our departure that we reached the
village. The tribe had given us over for lost, but when they saw us
returning with nine scalps and with but one of our party hurt, their
grief gave way to admiration, and we were greeted with shouts of
applause.

"The years I have spent among the Camanches are filled with such
exploits as these, but their recital would weary you, and I will not
further prolong my story."

As the renegade finished his narrative, we sat and smoked for some time
in silence. Then a sudden thought struck me and I said to him:

"Hisso-de-cha, I have often thought that I should like to go on the war
path. Why can you not take me with you when you next go forth with a war
party?"

"That I would willingly do," he replied, "but it would never be
permitted; or at all events, I never could gain Wakometkla's consent to
such a thing; but perhaps you can induce Stonhawon to let you accompany
him, and I think he could manage it. He is now preparing to go on an
expedition of some sort, as he is anxious to surpass my recent success
against the Arapahoes. But come, it is time we were asleep, and if you
are not tired of listening to me, I am decidedly tired of talking; so
permit me to bid you a _bueno noche_;" and so saying, the renegade arose
and retired to his lodge. I was not long in following his example, but
sleep did not close my eyelids until nearly dawn.

Reflecting upon the strange story of my still stranger companion, and
seeing in imagination the many bloody scenes through which he had
passed, my mind gradually turned