so noted it.

That circumstance was the running of the buffaloes observed during the
past few days. The gangs had passed from the north, going southward;
and their excited manner was almost a proof that they were pressed by a
party of hunters. The Wacoes were all this time hunting to the south of
the cibolero's camp! This would seem to indicate that some other
Indians were upon the north. What more likely than a band of Panes?

Again Carlos reproached himself for his too hasty suspicions of his new
friends. His mind was filled with doubts. Perhaps these would be
resolved by the light of the morning.

As soon as day should arrive, he had resolved to go to the Waco camp,
and satisfy himself, or at all events openly make his inquiries.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The first streaks of daylight were just falling upon the prairie, when
the quick keen eye of the half-blood, ranging the ground in every
direction, was arrested by the appearance of something odd upon the
grass. It lay near the spot where the _mulada_ had been picketed. It
was a darkish object in a recumbent position. Was it bushes or gorse?
No. It could not be that. Its outlines were different. It was more
like some animal lying down--perhaps a large wolf? It was near the
place where they had fancied that they saw something in the darkness,
and at which Carlos had fired.

Antonio, on first perceiving the object, called his master's attention
to it, and both now gazed over the box of the carreta, scanning it as
well as the grey light would permit them.

As this became brighter, the object was seen more distinctly, while at
each moment the curiosity of the ciboleros increased. They would have
long since gone out to examine it more closely; but they were not yet
free from apprehensions of a second attack from the Indians; and they
prudently remained within the corral.

At length, however, they could forego an examination no longer. They
had formed their suspicion of what the object was; and Carlos and
Antonio climbed over the carretas, and proceeded towards it.

On arriving at the spot they were not so much surprised--for they had
partially anticipated such a thing--at finding the body of a dead
Indian. It was lying flat upon the grass, face downwards; and, on
closer examination, a wound, from which much blood had run, was
perceived in the side. There was the mark of a rifle bullet--Carlos had