ut them that glittered!

Their arms of course not. These the Wacoes did not want. They had
similar ones themselves, and could manufacture them at will. They would
have purchased the long brown rifle; but that was a souvenir Carlos
would not have parted with for a score of mules.

For the next day or two the cibolero continued his hunting. He found
the buffalo grow every hour more excited and wild. He noticed, too,
that the "running" gangs came from the north, while the Wacoes were
hunting to the southward of his camp! It could not be the latter that
were disturbing them. Who then?

On the third night after his trade with the Indians, Carlos had retired
to rest with his people. Antonio kept watch until midnight, at which
hour he was to be relieved by one of the peons.

Antonio had grown very sleepy. His hard riding after the buffalo had
wearied him; and he was doing his best to keep awake for the last
half-hour of his vigil, when a snort reached his ears from the direction
of the _mulada_.

This brought him to himself. He placed his ear to the ground and
listened. Another snort louder than the first came from the _mulada_--
another--and another--quick in succession!

"What can it mean? Coyotes? or, perhaps, a bear? I shall wake my
master," said Antonio to himself.

Stealing gently to the side of Carlos, the half-blood shook the sleeper
by the arm. A slight shake was enough, for in an instant the cibolero
was upon his feet and handling his rifle. He always resorted to this
weapon in cases of danger, such as a hostile attack by Indians, using
his bow only in the chase.

After a word or two had passed between Carlos and Antonio the three
peons were awaked, and all five stood to their arms. The little party
remained in the midst of the carretas, which had been drawn up so as to
form a small triangular corral. The high boxes of these would be an
excellent protection against arrows; and, as there was no fire in the
camp to make a light, they could not be seen from without. The camp,
moreover, was shadowed by the thick foliage of the mulberries, which
rendered it still more obscure; while its occupants commanded a view of
the prairie in front. But for the wood copses which stood at intervals,
they could have seen the whole ground both up and down the valley and
along its sides. These copses, however, might have concealed any number
of foes.

The hunters remained silent, listening intently. At one