falo-beef, and chatting in perfect amity
with their new hosts.

The chief, a fine-looking man, and evidently possessing full authority,
became particularly friendly with Carlos, and was much pleased at
hearing that the latter had a stock of goods. He promised to visit his
camp next morning and allow his tribe to trade. As the cibolero had
conjectured, they were Waco Indians,--a noble race, one of the noblest
of the prairie tribes.

Carlos returned to his camp in high spirits. He would now have his
goods exchanged for mules,--so the chief promised,--and these were the
main objects of his expedition.

In the morning, according to appointment, the Indians arrived, chief and
all; and the little valley where the cibolero had encamped was filled
with men, women, and children. The packs were opened, the goods were
set forth, and the whole day was spent in continuous trading. The
cibolero found his customers perfectly honest; and when night came, and
they took their departure, not a single item of Carlos' stock remained
on his hands. In its place, however, a handsome _mulada_ of no less
than thirty mules was seen picketed in the bottom of the little valley.
These were now the property of Carlos the cibolero. Not a bad outlay of
his eight onzas!

Not only would they yield well on his return, but it was his intention
that each of them should carry back its full load of buffalo-hides, or
"tasajo."

It would be a successful expedition, indeed; and dreams of future
wealth, with the hope of being some day in a condition to advance a
legitimate claim to the hand of the fair Catalina, were already passing
through the mind of Carlos.

Once a "rico," reflected he, even Don Ambrosio might sanction his suit.
On that night soft was the slumber and pleasant the dreams of Carlos the
cibolero.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

Next day he followed his hunting with increased ardour. He was now
provided with the means of transport to any amount. There was no fear
he should have to leave either his robes or tasajo behind. With his own
mules, he had now thirty-five; and that number, with the three carretas,
would carry a splendid freight--of the value of hundreds of dollars.

He had already obtained some dressed robes from the Indians. For these
he had parted with everything for which an Indian would trade. Even the
buttons from off his jacket and those of his men, the bullion bands and
shining tags of their sombreros--everything abo