82 
FREDERICKSBURG 
formerly belonging thereto, speak Spanish, some of 
them with tolerable fluency. 
October One of our mules got loose this 
morning ; and after an hour and a half spent in trying 
to catch him, the teamsters gave up the chase. I then 
ofi’ered the young Indian a red shirt, if he would 
perform the job. He leaped on his horse without a 
saddle, took a long lasso or rope in his hand, and 
dashed off at full speed, followed by several of our 
men, after the mule, who, seeing his tormentors 
approach, took alarm and ran with his utmost speed. 
The race was quite exciting, and for a little while, it 
seemed doubtful which side would win. At length 
the Indian got within about forty feet, when, with a 
vigorous effort he threw the lasso over the mule’s head, 
and at once brought him to a stand. All seemed to 
enjoy the sport much ; and the Indians, who had each 
received from us presents of shirts and trinkets, parted 
from us, apparently delighted with their visit. 
The creek was five or six feet deep near our camp, 
but after a little search we found a bare rock near a 
fall, where we made an easy passage across. An hour 
after leaving, reached a branch of the stream we had 
left, which we followed in a course to the west-southwest 
for five or six miles, before a fording place could be 
found. The water was deep, and the banks abrupt. 
Crossing this stream, we again pursued a due west 
course until we struck Lipan Camp Creek, which, as 
well as all the other streams we have crossed since 
leaving Brady’s Creek, are tributaries of the Concho. 
We now made directly for the Green Mounds, which 
appeared but a few miles from us up a gradual ascent. 
