278 WALL STREET AND THE WILDS 



the Indian character and with the Comanches in 

 particular how unlikely it was that the Commis- 

 sioner could succeed in persuading or compelling 

 the Comanches to surrender five of their people, 

 and he took long chances of having an unpleasant 

 explanation to make to his fellow citizens of the 

 Lone Star State. 



Another council was called for the 8th of Octo- 

 ber, at which a lesser number of Indians ap- 

 peared, but they were the picked fighting men of 

 their tribes and all were armed to the teeth. The 

 soldiers too were under arms in their barracks and 

 a field piece was ready for service. 



The rejoicing was great when the council 

 opened with the giving up to their tribe of the 

 Kiowas, Satanta and Big Tree. The release was 

 unconditional and nothing was said of the de- 

 mand for Comanche raiders. That came up in 

 the afternoon at the Indian Agency one and a 

 half miles from the Post. At this meeting there 

 were twelve white men and sixty Indians, mostly 

 Comanches. The demand was made by the Com- 

 missioner, to which the Indians made savage 



