r which we partook
of a slight lunch, and were ready to start for our camp on the banks of
the Nucces, when Don Ignacio came to me, saying, that, as his presence
was really very necessary in camp, with my permission, he would take his
men--leaving enough behind to assist in driving the stock--and hurry on.

This would not inconvenience us, and enable him to arrive in camp several
hours earlier than ourselves.

Jerry at once acquiesced in the arrangement, saying that three men,
besides ourselves, would be all we should require.

Don Ignacio detailed that number to remain with us; and, with the balance
of the party, left us.

We made very fair progress during the night; and, when morning dawned,
were a long distance on our road.

An hour or two after daylight, old Jerry's keen eye detected, upon an
elevation in the distance, a party of three Comanches. We were in hope
that they would not discover us at first; but it soon became evident that
they had seen us, for one of their number turned and rode towards us,
waving a blanket in the air. This, Jerry said, was indicative of a desire
for a parley.

After a short conference together, Jerry decided it was better for us to
ride out and meet the party, rather than permit them to join us.

We accordingly prepared for the expedition, giving the Mexicans
instructions to proceed quietly with the stock.

As we approached the Indians, their leader, an old man apparantly about
sixty years of age, with a singularly cunning and wicked looking
countenance, came towards us and extended his hand for a shake; while,
with much solemnity, he announced himself as _Cuchillo_, a Comanche
chief, and a great friend of the whites.

While Jerry was conversing with the old fellow in Spanish, I made myself
familiar with the general appearance of the party. They were dressed each
with a buffalo rug thrown over his left shoulder in such a manner as to
allow it to sweep the ground behind him. They wore moccasins on their
feet, made of buckskin, with a heavy fringe or tassels pendant from the
seam behind, long enough to permit it to drag upon the ground. These,
with leggins made from a piece of blanket, which was wrapped about the
leg below the knee and fastened with a thong of buckskin, heavily
fringed, and the breechcloth, completed the dress.

Each was painted in a most hideous manner, in ochre and vermilion mixed
with a whitish clay.

Cuchillo shortly produced a well-worn greasy paper fro