304 THE JICARILLAS. 



few impetuous and strong-headed youths who 

 want to fight." The stolen horse hanng heen 

 restored soon after this harangue, peace was 

 joyfully proclaimed throughout both encamp- 

 ments, and the capitanes exchanged ratifica- 

 tions by a social smoke. 



The httle tribe of Jicarillas also harbored 

 an enmity for the Americans, which, in 1834, 

 broke out into a hostile rencontre. They had 

 stolen some animals of a gallant young back- 

 woodsman from Missouri, who, with a few 

 comrades, pursued the marauders into the 

 mountains and regained his property ; and a 

 fracas ensuing, an Indian or two were killed. 

 A few days afterward all their warriors visited 

 Santa Fe in a body, and demanded of the 

 authorities there, the dehvery of the American 

 ofienders to their vengeance. Though the 

 former showed quite a disposition to gratify 

 the savages as far as practicable, they had not 

 helpless creatures to deal with, as in the case 

 of the Indian prisoners already related. The 

 foreigners, seeing their protection devolved 

 upon themselves, prepared for defence, when 

 the savages were fain to depart in peace. 



