Star

new how to use bows and arrows as well as the older men. Children of the tribe were given tiny bows and arrows for toys as soon

d leaning forward, so that from the opposite side nothing could be seen of the

oys could not see where they were hiding. Because of this training and their small size, some of these boys had been allowed to

rround the Comanches, and that part of these men were between Quannah's band and the camp where the Comanche women a

s he saw Running Deer close to the edge of the group about Quannah, he leaped lightly to his feet and hastened to his mother's side. Sh

e of the women and children,

lose to Star's feet could be heard distinctly, and the song of a mockingbird sounded clearly from a nearby tree. Even the big herd of twelve hundred

e white men came, he could help her run away, as his mother had helped Quannah escape and hide. He turned to s

men. They are coming from the east and the west, also. We must make a path through them to reach our camp. The white men outnumber

Man spoke, and the others grunted and nodde

nd when the sun has gone, I shall send the smallest boys on our swiftest ponies to stampede the ponies of the white men. While all is confus

eer understood plainly. In a short time the Indians were riding the trail that led direct

is mother on whom Quannah was riding. When the couriers returned late i

ny stood with low-hanging head while its drawn sides and quick breathing told how hard the pace ha

r voices in the strange white tepees. A few men who do not sleep walk around and keep watch. All of the men hav

" Quannah's ey

e to hear what he said. The other Comanches began making preparations for food, so Running Deer, w

e will be sent to-night

day. It would be a great honour if both of us were sent. But now stop talking. Eat, that you may rest, for

heir noses into the clear, cool water and drank all they wished. Then the two of them found a spot which they pawed

ut the stars gleamed overhead. When the little spots of light flickered in the sky Star knew that it was from the hoofs of ponies in the H

eer. "The men are picking the

s where he could hear the soft tread of moccasined feet that were coming nearer and nearer to him and his mother. He wanted to

awhide noose slipped about his neck. He felt his mother's nose against his own, but the nip she gave him this time was no

you are my colt. Your honour is my honour. If

in the darkness of night. She knew that the quick little bite he had g

wo little Comanche boys, who were looking up at the chief and listening carefully

en's camp lie closely and hold your hands tightly across your ponies' noses to k

u say," the boys

out loudly and beat the ponies with the pieces of buffalo hide you carry. That will frighten them so they will run away. Your own ponies will follow. You must drive the wh

ndians watched them and whispered to one another, "These ch

our lives. If you are captured, let no man know why you were sent, nor where we are waiting. Do not whisper

extended over their heads. The boys knelt down. Around them like shadows in the faint starlight stood

s from the Happy Hunting Grounds this night that they may travel beside these children and give them courage and cunning to save the Comanche people. We are weak, we are few, and the wh

with excitement as one of the boys grasped the mane that fell thickly on the pony's neck. With a quick,

aned down on the necks of the ponies and darted, side by side, through the pathway of