FRIEXDS AT LAST ! 345 



wait for me ; which they did, trembling. Then I advanced 

 towards them, and forced the rider who seemed best 

 mounted to alight and let me take his place in the saddle ; 

 then, waving them an adieu, I left the creatures, com- 

 pletely dumbfoundered at the adventure ! 



The horse's gait soon caused me horrible torture : I 

 nearly fainted, and scarcely knowing what I did, I let go 

 the bridle, and clutched with both hands at the pommel 

 of the saddle. 



I remember that at length I was received by the tirail- 

 leurs at the gate of Bexar, and I also remember to have 

 heard a voice exclaim, 



" Poor fellow, I did not think we should ever see him 

 more ! " 



It seems they helped me clown from my horse, carried 

 me into the barracks, and laid me on a bed, where I was 

 carefully attended to. Thus was I saved ! 



Afterwards I heard the story of my companions' for- 

 tunes. The Redskins had attacked them singly, and a 

 desperate struggle ensued, in the course of which two 

 men were killed and several others left for dead. Captain 

 Shark was taken prisoner and scalped, an operation which 

 he did not long survive. The little man was wounded, 

 but not desperately, and in company with most of his 

 friends effected a gallant retreat, and returned to Bexar 

 without further molestation. 



And this was the end of our hunting expedition. 



