depredation, which for some time proved successful. His most ordinary
method was to preside over a barter betwixt the savages and the traders.
When both parties had agreed, they were of course in good humour, and
drank freely. Now was the time for the Colonel. To the Indians he would
affirm that the traders only waited till they were asleep, to butcher
them and take back their goods. The same story was told to the traders,
and a fight ensued, the more terrible as the whole party was more or
less tipsy. Then, with some rogues in his own employ, the Colonel, under
the pretext of making all safe, would load the mules with the furs and
goods, proceed to Santa Fé, and dispose of his booty for one-third of
its value. None cared how it had been obtained; it was cheap,
consequently it was welcome.

His open robberies and tricks of this description were so numerous that
Overton became the terror of the mountains. The savages swore that they
would scalp him; the Canadians vowed that they would make him dance to
death; the English declared that they would hang him; and the Yankees,
they would put him to Indian torture. The Mexicans, not being able any
more to protect their favourite, put a price upon his head. Under these
circumstances, Overton took an aversion to society, concealed himself,
and during two years nothing was heard of him, when, one day, as a party
of Comanches and Tonquewas were returning from some expedition, they
perceived a man on horseback. They knew him to be Overton, and gave
chase immediately.

The chase was a long one. Overton was mounted upon a powerful and noble
steed, but the ground was broken and uneven; he could not get out of the
sight of his pursuers. However, he reached a platform covered with fine
pine trees, and thought himself safe, as on the other side of the wood
there was a long level valley extending for many miles; and there he