In this manner the day passed away, and evening approached. I still felt
hope and courage; but my physical strength began to give way. The gnawing
sensation of hunger increased. I was sick and faint; my limbs became heavy,
my blood seemed chilled in my veins, and all my senses appeared to grow
duller under the influence of exhaustion, thirst, and hunger. My eyesight
became misty, my hearing less acute, the bridle felt cold and heavy in my
fingers.

Still I rode on. Sooner or later I must find an outlet; the prairie must
have an end somewhere. It is true the whole of Southern Texas is one vast
prairie; but then there are rivers flowing through it, and if I could
reach one of those, I should not be far from the abodes of men. By
following the streams five or six miles up or down, I should be sure to
find a plantation.

As I was thus reasoning with, and encouraging myself, I suddenly perceived
the traces of a third horse, running parallel to the two which I had been
so long following. This was indeed encouragement. It was certain that
three travellers, arriving from different points of the prairie, and all
going in the same direction, must have some object, must be repairing to
some village or clearing, and where or what this was had now become
indifferent to me, so long as I once more found myself amongst my
fellow-men. I spurred on my mustang, who was beginning to flag a little in
his pace with the fatigue of our long ride.

The sun set behind the high trees of an island that bounded my view
westward, and there being little or no twilight in those southerly
latitudes, the broad day was almost instantaneously replaced by the
darkness of night. I could proceed no further without losing the track of