m the zopilotes are swooping.
He's not dead yet; that's why they don't go down."

"It may be," rejoins the renegade. "Still I don't like the look of it.
Over a dead horse they'd hardly soar so high. True, they keep in one
place. If it were Texans pursuing us they'd be moving onward--coming
nearer and nearer. They're not. It must be, as you say, the horse. I
don't think the people of the settlement we struck would be strong
enough to come after us--at least not so soon. They may in time, after
they've got up a gathering of their Rangers. That isn't likely to be
till we've got safe beyond their reach. They won't gain much by a march
to the Witchita mountains. _Por cierte_! the zopilotes out yonder are
over something; but, as they're not moving on, most likely it's the
horse."

Again the Horned Lizard gives a grunt, expressing satisfaction; after
which the two scramble back down the cliff, to seek that repose which
fighting and forced marching make necessary to man, be he savage or
civilised.

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

PURSUERS ON THE PATH.

Despite common belief, the instinct of the Indian is not always sure,
nor his intellect unerring. An instance of the contrary is afforded by
the behaviour of the Tenawa chief and his subordinate Barbato.

About the buzzards both have been mistaken. The second flock seen by
them is not hovering over a horse, but above an encampment of horsemen.
Not correctly an encampment, but a halt _en bivouac_--where men have
thrown themselves from their saddles, to snatch a hurried repast, and
take quick consultation about continuing on.

They are all men, not a woman or child among them, bearded men with
white skins, and wearing the garb of civilisation. This not of the most
fashionable kind or cut, nor are they all in the exact drew of civilised
life. For many of them wear buckskin hunting shirts, fringed leggings,
and moccasins; more a costume peculiar to the savage. Besides these
there are some in blanket-coats of red, green, and blue; all
sweat-stained and dust-tarnished, till the colours nearly correspond.
Others in Kentucky jeans, or copper-coloured homespun. Still others in
sky-blue _cottonade_, product of the hand-mills of Attakapas. Boots,
shoes, and brogans fabricated out of all kinds of leather; even that
from the corrugated skin of the illigator. Hats of every shape,
fashion, size, and material--straw, chip, Panama, wool, felt, silk, and
beaver.

In one respe