50 THE PLAINS. 



One of these occasions might easily have had a tragic 

 termination, and was so full of adventure that I relate it, 

 not as a model of good travelling, but as a specimen of 

 plains life. 



I was a lieutenant, temporarily attached to a cavalry 

 company. We were returning from a long scout, and 

 had to cross a portion of the Guadalupe Mountains. 

 These mountains were at that time a stronghold of the 

 Texas plains Indians, who, hid in their fastnesses, watched 

 their opportunities for raids on the settlements below, 

 using most frequently the Bandera Pass on their return 

 with stolen stock. In the hope of bagging some ducks, I 

 went off alone to the right of the command, following for 

 some distance the branches of the Perdinales. I was 

 mounted on a powerful mule, an excellent riding and 

 hunting animal. My eagerness for game led me farther 

 than I intended, and though I. took the proper direction, 

 and kept a sharp watch for the trail, night overtook me 

 in the wilderness. I found a good place in a deep ravine 

 with plenty of wood, picketed my mule, and went into 

 camp. The frame of my tent was made of sticks, stuck 

 in the ground in a circle and bent together at the top. 

 Over these was placed my wide india-rubber pouches, 

 and over the slit in the top I fastened my hat. My bed 

 was the saddle-blanket, my pillow the saddle. I had 

 hardly completed my arrangements when a rain-storm, 

 such as Texas only can get up, burst upon me. However, 

 I slept comfortably and dry from above ; but the rain 

 soaked in underneath, and I was thoroughly disgusted, 

 and not a little alarmed, next morning to find that my 

 gun, in spite of all precautions, was so wet that I could 

 not discharge it. I had a revolver ; but, having no 

 cartridges to reload, did not try to fire it off, but from 

 appearance judged it to be in the same condition as the 

 gun. I was practically disarmed. 



At daylight I started for the Bandera Pass, deter- 

 mined not to waste time in looking for the command, but 



