cut the throats of a number of
people with whom we had no quarrel.

The chief, who took our refusal very good-humouredly, asked if we would
assist in guarding the camp and the women and children during his
absence. This request we could not well refuse, and we had therefore to
agree to await his return, Dick telling him that we hoped he would come
back victorious.

This matter settled, he and his braves immediately set out; while we
kept a strict watch on the camp, which we thought it more than probable
might be attacked during the absence of the warriors whose departure
their cunning enemies might have discovered.

Although there were two or three alarms caused by a pack of coyotes
which approached the camp, the morning broke without an enemy having
been seen. We had still many hours to wait the result of the battle.
It was not until near the evening that a band of horsemen were seen
approaching from the northeast. They might be friends or they might be
enemies. We all hastened to our posts, old men and boys seizing their
arms ready to fight if necessary. As the horsemen drew nearer, the
Indians uttered loud cries of satisfaction, for they were discovered to
be their friends. Still they came on slowly. It appeared to me that
their numbers were diminished. Presently Yellow Wolf dashed forward
bearing a couple of scalps at the end of his spear. Other braves
followed, several of them having the same gory trophies. On getting up
close to the camp, they halted to receive the congratulations of their
friends.

The old men and women then began to inquire for the relatives who were
no longer among them. The same answer was given to all, "He fell
fighting bravely." On hearing this, loud wails arose from those who had
lost husbands, brothers, and sons.

It was some time before we could learn from Yellow Wolf what had
happened. He had been entirely successful in surprising the Coomanche
camp, but they had fought desperately and many of his braves fell before
he had succeeded in putting his enemies to flight. The scalps he had
brought showed the number of slain on the other side. Another day was
lost, while our savage friends blackened their faces and mourned for the
dead, after which they danced their hideous scalp-dance. I was thankful
that they had returned without prisoners; for I am certain they would
have put them to death with all sorts of horrible tortures, even though
we might have protested against