268 NATURE'S NOBLEMAN. 



The only inhabitants of this vast region are strolling bands of buflalo 

 and wild horses, with wolves, prairie dogs, and a few scattering antelope. 

 The only human beings that visit it are Mexican traders and occasional 

 war-parties of Pawnee, Apache, Kuyawa, Cumanche, and Arapaho In- 

 dians, and they only for the brief interval required in its hurried passage. 



Who, then, so wild as to suppose for a moment that such a country can 

 ever become inhabited by civilized man ? — unless the time should literally 

 be ushered in, when, to use the language of Scripture, " the desert shall 

 bud and blossom as the rose !" 



Late in the afternoon, tow^ards the close of our journey, a little below the 

 point at which the Santa Fe trail crosses the Cimarone, we came upon two 

 horses that appeared to have recently strayed from some travelling party. 

 According to the custom of the country anything encountered in this 

 manner is good and lawful prize to the finder, and we forthwith set 

 about taking possession. 



One of them, however, a two-year-old colt, proved so unmanageable 

 we were obliged to kill it in order to secure the other. Being rather 

 scantily supplied with provisions, the fresh-slaughtered animal (fine and 

 fat as it was) presented an opportunity too tempting not to be improv- 

 ed in replenishing our stock, which induced us to encamp for that 

 purpose. 



Soon after a large party of horsemen made their appearance from 

 over the neighboring hills, and, having devoted a few minutes to recon- 

 noitering, advanced upon us at full charge. In an instant our little 

 force was draw'n up in readiness to repel the expected attack. But, 

 instead of enemies, the objects of our apprehension proved a squad of 

 Arapahos, and they w^ere accordingly allowed to come into camp. 



One of our visitors happened to be the owner of the two horses we 

 had found, which, as he stated, (having described them minutely,) had 

 strayed from his village, some six miles distant ; he then enquired of us if 

 we had seen them. Here was a dilemma ; should we deny the fact, and 

 run the risk of being caught in a falsehood ? or should we confess and 

 abide the consequences ? Our commandant decided upon the latter course ; 

 but, in so doing, had resort to an artful duplicity to bear upon the finer 

 feelings of the Indian, and replied : 



" My warriors had suflTered long for lack of food. Three suns had sunk 

 behind the mountain, and not one morsel had entered their mouths to give 

 them strength for travel. In their distress they enquired of the Great 

 Spirit, and He showed them the lost animals of my brother. 



" My warriors were not slow to receive the welcome gift. The flesh of 

 the younger one hath caused us to bless the Good Spirit; the other is with 

 our own medicine-dogs, that my brother may search for it no longer." 



The owner; on hearing this, looked very sorrwful. The colt had been 

 a favorite of his squaw and children. In a moment, however, he arose, 

 and, extending his hand to the commandant, exclaimed : 



" My heart is good. My white brother did well to receive the gift of the 

 Good Spirit, that his warriors might eat." 



Commandant. But the young medicine-dog of my brother was the be- 



