was still early in the evening, I determined to walk over to
Magoffin's camp, which was about a quarter of a mile above us, and
ascertain if his men had seen anything to cause them to apprehend danger.
I found that Don Ignacio, the wagon-master, fully corroborated Jerry's
statements about the smoke signals, adding that he intended to have a
very strict watch kept that night.

With, tins information I returned to camp; and, after telling the boys
what I had heard and cautioning them to keep a sharp lookout during their
watch, I "turned in," resolved to nap "with one eye open" myself.

I lay for a long time trying in vain to compose myself to sleep; but,
finding it impossible to do so, concluded to rise and endeavor to walk my
nervousness away.

Without thinking of my firearms, I sallied forth, and must have travelled
nearly a mile, when I came suddenly upon a mule, standing alone, a short
distance from the roadside.

Supposing it to be one of our own, which, through carelessness, had been
permitted to stray from the herd, I attempted to secure it, with the
intention of leading it back; but, to my surprise, it started and dashed
furiously away across the prairie, in an opposite direction from camp.

I well knew that a mule, when alone on the plains, is one of the most
docile creatures in the world, and will permit any one save an Indian to
approach it without making an effort to escape; consequently, the more I
thought of the matter the more singular it seemed. Returning to camp, I
found old Jerry awake and on the alert, and briefly told him what I had
seen, asking him if he did not think it a strange thing for the animal to
do.

Without a moment's hesitation he replied,--

"Strange? no! That air lost critter of yourn was a Comanche scout's, you
bet; and, bein' a scout, he couldn't have done nothin' else, 'cause it
might hev spilt their entire calculation. You'll hev a chance ter see him
agin afore mornin', I reckon."

"But there was no Indian with the mule," I insisted.

[Illustration: Comanche Riding.]

"Ten to one there was, though," replied Jerry. "You ain't so well
'quainted with them Comanches as I be. They're cunnin' fellers! They
never show themselves when they're on a horse, or in a fight. They just
stick closer'n a tick to their hoss's side, and do a heap of mighty good
shootin' from under his neck, I can tell you. Why, I've seen forty of 'em
comin' full tilt right towards me, and narry Injun in sight