Chap. X. EXAMPLES OF MEXICAN BEAVEEY. 349 
alive into the hands of the Indians, by whom he was hewn 
in pieces. Portions of his body were found afterwards in 
a small circuit, attached to the mezquite bushes. 
Many distinguished families in Northern Mexico bewail 
the loss of children stolen from them by the Indians. The 
following tale was related to me in Chihuahua by a mem- 
ber of the family concerned. 
Two sisters, ladies from Durango, lived, each with a 
child — a boy and a girl — at the Kancho de la Tinaje, two 
leguas from the town. The neighbourhood was attacked 
by a band of Comanches, and the ladies, whose husbands 
were absent, sought refuge with their children in the town, 
but were seized by the Indians on the road. Just as this 
happened, one of the husbands approached, and, seeing his 
wife in the hands of one of these savages, fired both barrels 
of his gun at him, but missed ; and was immediately 
speared by the Indian. The lady fortunately fainted, and 
the Indians, who were immediately pursued, fled, leaving 
her for dead. The other lady also escaped by a lucky 
chance. The band having ridden rapidly for some distance, 
came to a river, where they stopped. While the Indians 
bathed here, the stolen horses took to flight and were 
followed by those of the horde. The Indians hastened 
after them, and left the lady. They had now only the two 
children. The girl was sharp-witted ; caressed the old 
Comanche, who held her before him on his saddle, and 
coaxed him till he let her go, close to some inhabited place. 
But the boy, as his friends afterwards heard, resisted, and 
struck the Indian who carried him in the face. As a 
punishment they stripped him of his good clothes, and 
changed them with those of a poor lad who had been 
carried off with him from the same estate, and who after- 
wards found his way home again. Thus, little Eamon Lopez 
