910 - NOTES TAKEN. 
arrived at the rancho about two o’clock, a. m., and not wishing 
to disturb the inmates, were quietly tying up their mules to 
feed them, as was their custom at this place, when a young 
man, who was sleeping in the open air, being aroused, rushed 
to the house and shouted Indians. The man inside sprang 
out of bed, and seizing his gun, rushed to the door and fired 
two shots, both taking effect upon the poor soldier and 
mortally wounding him. He lingered insensible until eight, 
A. M,, and died. Our carpenter made a rude coffin, and we 
buried him upon a hill side, along side of a dragoon who had 
been killed sometime before, by the Witchitas. 
This incident shows how exciting is frontier life, and how 
constantly upon the alert the settlers must be against attack 
or surprise. 
We moved camp six miles up the stream, on the same 
prairie and to a similiar spot to the one we left, though the 
water was not so good. 
Major Neighbours returned to his home near San Antonio, 
and took with him Conner, the two Jacobs and Jack Hunter 
—the Shawnee. We parted with the Major with regret, his 
fand of anecdote of Indian life and customs, and his great ex- 
perience on the frontier, imparted with so much affability and 
enthusiasm had wiled away many an hour in camp and on the 
march, and we missed him very much. 
We remained at this point until the fourth of September, 
the surveying parties actively employed in running the lines 
