CAMP COMANCHE. 37 
comprehend the secret instantly, and, drawing 
bow once more, he discharged a number 
of arrows with the same rapidity, as a palpa- 
ble intimation that he could shoot as fast with 
his instrument as we could with our patent 
fire-arms. This was not merely a vain show: 
there was more of reality than of romance in 
his demonstration. 
Shortly after this we reached a fresh brook, 
a tributary of the North fork, which wound 
its silent course in the midst of a picturesque 
valley, surrounded by romantic hills and crag- 
gy knobs. Here we pitched our camp: when 
three of our visitors left us for the purpose of 
going to bring all the ‘capitanes’ of their 
tribe, who were said to be encamped at no 
great distance from us. 
Our encampment, which we designated as 
‘Camp Comanche,’ was only five or. six miles 
from the North Fork, while, to the southward, 
the main Canadian was but a little more dis- 
tant. 
After waiting anxiously for the arrival of 
the Comanche chiefs, until our patience was 
well nigh exhausted, I ascended a high knoll 
just behind our camp; in company with the 
younger of the two chiefs who had remained 
with us, to see if anything could be discover- 
ed. By and by, the Comanche pointed anx- 
iously towards the northwest, where he espied 
a party of his people, though at such a great 
distance, that it was some time before I could 
discern them. With what acuteness of 
vision are these savages endowed! Accus- 
ae 4 
