ght," growled Ogden. "If
thar's a rush at daylight they won't have no more powder an' ball. When
they hadn't oughter shoot, they shoot; when they oughter shoot, thar too
danged scared to pull trigger."

CHAPTER XIII

HURRAH FOR TEXAS

At daylight the only Indians in sight were several rifle shots from the
caravan, but encircling it. Hostilities of every nature apparently had
ceased, but without causing the travelers to relax in their vigilance.
Breakfast was over before the savages made any move and then a sizable
body of them came charging over the prairie, brandishing their weapons
and yelling at the top of their voices. While not the equals of the
Comanches in horsemanship they were good riders and as they raced toward
the encampment, showing every trick they knew, the spectacle was well
worth watching.

"Showin' off," said Jim Ogden. "Want ter talk with us. Now we got ter
stop them fool greenhorns from shootin'!"

At his warning his companions ran along the line of wagons and begged
that not a shot be fired until the captain gave the word. If the Indians
wanted a parley the best thing would be to give it to them.

Meanwhile the captain and two experienced men rode slowly forward,
stopping while still within rifle shot of their friends. The charging
savages pulled up suddenly and stopped, three of their number riding
ahead with the same unconcern and calm dignity as the white men had
shown. One of them raised a hand, palm out, and when well outside of the
range of the rifles of the encampment, stopped and waited. Captain
Woodson, raising his hand, led his two companions at a slow walk toward
the waiting Indians and when he stopped, the two little parties were
within easy speaking distance of each other. Each group was careful to
show neither distrust nor fear, and apparently neither was armed. Erect
in their saddles, each waited for the other to speak.

"My young men are angry because the white men and their wagons have
crossed the Pawnee country and have frightened away the buffalo," said
the leader of the warriors, a chief, through an interpreter.

"The buffalo are like the grass of the prairies," replied Woodson. "They
are all around us and are bold enough to charge our wagons on the march
and frighten our animals."

"From the Loup Fork to the Arkansas, from the Big Muddy to the great
mountains, is Pawnee country, which none dare enter."

"The Cheyennes, the Arapahoes, the Osages, and other bra