Jerry informed them that we had a large company a few hours' ride to the
north; and had been out purchasing some stock from another party, who
were encamped to the south of us a few miles.

This information seemed to cause them some surprise; for they asked many
questions concerning the strength of this last party, its destination,
etc., all of which Jerry answered in a straightforward manner, to their
evident satisfaction.

Cuchillo was very curious in regard to our revolvers,--of which each man
in our party had two, in addition to his rifle,--and at last we
determined to show them that we were well armed, and ready for any
emergency. I set up a small mark at the distance of sixty or seventy
feet; and Jerry immediately emptied, in rapid succession, the contents of
both revolvers, without stopping to reload. This caused the greatest
astonishment; and, in a short time, they began to manifest a disposition
to leave. With many professions of friendship, Jerry endeavored to
persuade them to accompany us to our camp; but they declined, promising
to visit us on the morrow; and, after a most affectionate farewell,
Cuchillo and his braves left us, riding towards the south-west.

"There," exclaimed Jerry, as soon as they were fairly off, "ef there
don't go as sneakin' a varmint as there is in the whole Comanche nation,
I'll lose my guess. They'll go for that air camp to the southward,
expectin' to find some greenhorns; and I only hope they may find 'em. The
thing for us to do is to git our cattle into camp ez soon as possible. We
kin hurry 'em some, and I reckon we'd better do it."

We made good progress for a couple of hours; and, on reaching the top of
a "divide," saw a large emigrant wagon drawn by three yoke of oxen,