killed!

For my part, I desired that the former should be his destiny. I had no
feeling of revenge to gratify by taking the life of this red man; and
had his capture not been absolutely necessary to our own safety, I
should willingly have let him come and go as he listed.

Some of my comrades were actuated by very different motives. Killing a
Comanche Indian was, by their creed, no greater crime than killing a
wolf, a panther, or a grizzly bear; and it was not from any motives of
mercy that the trapper had cautioned the others to hold their fire;
prudence alone dictated the advice--he had given his reason--the reports
of our guns might be heard.

Through the leaves, I looked upon the horseman as he advanced. A
fine-looking fellow he was--no doubt one of the distinguished warriors
of his tribe. What his face was I could not see, for the war-paint
disfigured it with a hideous mask; but his body was large, his chest
broad and full, his limbs symmetrical, and well turned to the very toes.
He sat his horse like a centaur.

I had no opportunity for prolonged observation. Without hesitating, the
Indian galloped up.

I sprang my horse clear of the timber. I wound the lazo around my head,
and hurled it towards him; I saw the noose settling over his shoulders,
and falling down to his hips.

I spurred in the opposite direction; I felt the quick jerk, and the taut
rope told me I had secured the victim.

I turned in my saddle, and glanced back; I saw the rope of Garey around
the neck of the Indian's mustang, tightened, and holding him fast.
Horse and horseman--both were ours!

CHAPTER EIGHTY THREE.

MY PLAN.

The savage did not yield himself up without resistance. Resistance with
an Indian is instinctive, as with a wild animal. He flung himself from
his horse, and drawing his knife, with a single cut severed the thong
that bound him.

In another instant, he would have been off among the bushes; but before
he could move from the spot, half-a-dozen strong arms were around him;
and in spite of his struggles, and the dangerous thrusts of his long
Spanish knife, he was "choked" down and held fast.

My followers were for making short work with him. More than one had
bared their blades to finish him upon the spot, and would have done so,
had I not interfered. I was averse to spilling his blood; and by my
intercession, his life was spared.

To prevent him from giving us further trouble, however, we tied him to