22 A SEMI-MUTE COLLOQUY. 
On the following day we were again joined 
by old Tabba-quena, and another Comanche 
chief, with five or six warriors, and as many 
squaws, including Tab’s wife and infant son. 
As we were jogging along in the afternoon, I 
held quite a long conversation in our semi- 
mute language with the squinting old chief. 
He gave me to understand, as well as he could, 
that his comrades* had proceeded on their 
journey to see the Capitan Grande, but that 
he had concluded to return home for bet- 
ter horses. He boasted in no measured terms 
of his friendship for the Americans, and pro- 
mised to exert his influence to prevent the 
turbulent and unruly spirits of his nation from 
molesting us. But he could not disguise his 
fears in regard to the Pawnees and Osages, 
who, he said, would be sure to run off with 
our stock while we were asleep at night. 
en I informed him that we kept a _. 
night-watch, he said, “Esta bueno” (that 
good), and allowed that our chances for palit 
were not so bad after all. 
These friendly Indians encamped with us 
that night, and on the following morning the 
old chief informed us that some of his party 
had a few “ mulas para swap” (mules to trade ; 
for having learned the word swap of some 
American - traders, he very ingeniously tacked 
it at the tail of his little stock of Spanish 
A barter for five mules was immediately con- 
* Some of these (principally Kiawas, as I afterwards learned), 
reached Fort Gibson, and received a handsome reward of govern- 
ment presents for thal 9i visit. 
