ARRIVAL OF THREE CADDO SCOUTS. 221 



and run. The Indians drew off, and we were left in peace for 

 some hours, when about three in the afternoon we saw them 

 all galloping to one point, apparently in chase of something ; 

 and in a few minutes later we made out, with the glasses, three 

 men making straight for us at full speed, closely followed by 

 the Comanches. On their reaching us, we found them to be 

 three Caddo Indians, speaking English very fairly, and they 

 told us that, being on a hunt from Fort Arbuckle and hearing 

 the firing, they had come to see what it meant, and finding 

 that it was their enemies the Comanches, and knowing from 

 our waggon that we must be whites, they had ridden through 

 to see if they could help us in any way. We camped at once 

 and held a consultation, and it was at length decided that one 

 of them should take " Polly," and try to get through the 

 Comanches and bring us help from Arbuckle. 



The distance was, they thought, eleven miles, and the only 

 question was, could the mare do it ? The Caddos were all of 

 them small men and very light, but some of the Comanches 

 seemed well mounted, though A-sa-ha-be's stallion the animal 

 we most feared was now dead. We promised a very large 

 reward should help arrive in time, and all three of the Caddos 

 were willing to go, so we chose the one who seemed the 

 lightest. 



He prepared himself by taking off everything but a shirt, a 

 breech-clout, and moccasins; and, provided with a raw-hide 

 whip and holding a green branch in his right hand, he started, 

 riding slowly, so as to give the Comanches time to collect at 

 one point. This we saw them doing, thinking, no doubt, that 

 he was commissioned to treat for peace. On getting to what 

 seemed to us to be about a hundred yards, he threw away the 



