AND OTHER HUNTING ADVENTURES. 223 



later I learned from a half -breed that death had 

 relieved the sufferings of my mother and sister. 

 That was twenty years ago. I was fifteen years old 

 then, and from that day to this I have been on the 

 trail of that tribe. I boast of nothing, but each year 

 I feel better satisfied with my work. I hope that, in 

 time, I may feel content to return East and engage 

 in some lawful and more congenial pursuit." 



At that instant a deer bounded up out of the tall 

 grass a hundred yards ahead and went prancing 

 away to the left. Frank caught his rifle from the 

 sling at his saddle bow and sent a bullet through 

 its head. 



Early the next morning the hunters came upon 

 fresh buffalo signs, and in the afternoon a few 

 stragglers were seen. One was killed in the even- 

 ing, and on the creek where they camped that night 

 fresh Indian camp signs were found. A small herd 

 of buffalo came to the creek to drink, a mile below, 

 just after sundown, and various facts indicated 

 that they were near the main herd. All through 

 the next day they were in sight of small bands, and 

 several hunting parties were sighted, some white 

 and some red. The feed was getting scarce, owing 

 to its having been eaten down by the game, and at 

 two o'clock the party camped on Willow creek, a 

 small tributary of the Brazos river. The main herd 

 was yet about ten miles away, but the hunters could 

 not consistently go any nearer for a permanent camp, 

 and decided to make it here. Two white hunters 

 visited them in the evening, and told them that a 

 party of ten Comanches were camped on Turtle 

 creek seven miles further west. At this intelligence 



