e. Thinking it ours, they started for it, and walked
directly into the midst of a party of fifteen Comanches, who were as much
surprised at seeing two youngsters armed with rifles coming into their
midst, as they were frightened at finding themselves surrounded by naked,
painted savages.

The Comanches immediately took possession of their fire-arms, and
stripped them of nearly all their clothing. Then they tried to ascertain
where they came from, and how they had become separated from their party.

The boys told them, as well as they were able by signs, that they were
lost, and that their friends would give a great many goods if they would
show them the way back to our camp.

This seemed to please the Indians, who soon after, took a large kettle
from off the fire and set it before them, motioning them to eat. The
kettle held a stew of what they thought was antelope meat, so they ate
heartily of it, for they were very hungry. When they had nearly satisfied
their appetites, Hal fished up from the depths of the mess the fore-leg
and foot of a dog. This was decidedly an unpleasant revelation, and both
became very sick and vomited freely, to the great amusement of the
Indians.

They were then placed under guard, and soon after fell asleep. In the
morning they were rudely awakened and told to mount a pony, to which they
were securely tied, so as to prevent any attempt to escape.

Many miles were travelled in this manner. The boys became anxious, and
were endeavoring to prepare themselves for the worst, when, from the top
of a high bluff, they saw us awaiting their arrival.

The sudden transition from despondency to joy, quite overpowered them;
and, for the first time, they gave way to their feelings.

"Both of us tried as hard as we could," said Ned, "to make 'em think we
didn't care a snap about it. But we did, though, I can tell you. We were
mighty glad when we saw you, wasn't we, Hal?"

This question was too much for Hal. The boys looked into each others
faces for a moment, then burst into tears.

Everybody about camp was delighted with their safe return, and they were
obliged many times to repeat their story, not forgetting a description of
their supper on dog meat, in the Comanches' camp.

CHAPTER V.

On the following morning the camp was astir and we were under way at a
very early hour,--long before sunrise, in fact,--but we had hardly
proceeded a mile from our halting-place, before one of the Mexicans, wh