The Young Trail Hunters

d the story of his adventures the night

gly, heard

ht onto my shoulder, and the heft of him hed knocked me down

he hadn't really hed no chance ter bite, when the judge fired. He didn't do it a mite too soon, though, you bet. Ef it hadn't a bin for you boys-well, boys hain't got no biz

ions of wonder and admiration uttered by the boys wh

there," said Hal. "I could have shot h

ldn't have dared

sn't frightened a bit the night the Indians got into cam

crying, when we were up that tree, yester

w anything about ho

ers, either, youngster. Brag's a good dog, bu

Jerry?" called I; "and how's

upon noon. My shoulder's putty sore, b

te that Jerry advised remaining encamped until the following

elope, and had gone some three or four miles from camp, when Ned called my attention to

rcept him; but, seeing us approac

embroidered and laced along the seams; pants, confined by a scarlet silk sash at the waist, and open at the sides, through which the wide Mexican drawers were plainly visible

leather, grotesquely stamped: upon the pommel hung,

powder-horn and bullet-pouch, bein

d to see a "gang" of wild mustangs during the day; saying that he was known as Antonio, t

e appeared to think must be in our immediate vicinity,

sk so many questions, that Antonio was obliged to tell them he could not explain very well; but,

ssented to their request; and, joining the "mustanger," rode towards the south-west, and in

"gang," which was too wild to approach with the l

do that?"

fle," answe

of those horses

stand it," said Antonio. "Now you watch me; and, when you me

ad approached so near, that we could plainly see their elegant forms and color, as they proudly curvetted and ga

hoot, please

, and one of the herd dropped to the ground. The next inst

et; but the Mexican had so effectually secured him, he soon ceased his efforts, and lay perfectly still. Antonio then cautiously l

till, permitting Antonio to approach and gently caress him. He was a noble old fellow,-a snow-w

ascertain the philosophy of "creasing" as the boys themselves; nor w

cal vertebrae; and, for the moment, completely paralyzed the large nerve of the

ed Antonio upon his skill as a marksman, and then turned in the direction of camp without starting any game, however, until we reached th

lay over a high, arid plain covered, as far as the eye could see

ings? so cunning!"- "How can we catch one?"-"Just l

humanity, in their actions. They have often been classed with the marmot by prairie Travellers; but, to my own mind, partake more of the nature of the squirr

generally found growing in abundance in the vicinity of their towns, which a

y cleverly evaded all the snares set for them, invariably dodged at the flash of our pistols, chattering away as lively as ev

in his appeal, that I finally yielded a reluctant consent to the project, cautioning them under no circumstances, to remain away from the train more than tw

I began to feel alarmed at their prolonged absence. My apprehensions were somewhat relieved for the moment by one

lloping furiously in, with their long lassos dragging in the dus

ed, and everyone anxious to he

here Hal and Ned had left them; still, he reckoned some one ought to go bac

e possible, in order to attract the attention of the youngsters in the darkness. Occasionally we listened for a reply; but not a sound could we hear, sav

of the missing boys. Finally Jerry discovered their tracks in the road leading towards camp; and it seemed possi

a short distance in advance, suddenly stopped, as though waiting for me to overtake him. As I rode up

got 'em! That trail ain't twelve hours old, and

ly follow and retake

omanches, and they ez likely ez not, forty miles ahead of us. Still, we've got ter git them boys somehow; and the

nter; but, when within about two miles of our camp, his keen eyes detected, upon a ris

waving a large blanket in the air, then urged h

ter speak to us; but I reckon I'd better find out who he is, afore he co

outward. Then he slowly moved it backward and forward a few times; when, to my great surprise, the Indian checked his horse, and sa

e the wriggling movement made by a snake in crawling. Then he elevated both hands high above his head, clasped closely together; then, appara

ain who he was. He answered that he was a Comanche, and friendly. Mebbe we can git some news of the b

y to a stand-still, he extended a very dirty hand, ornamented w

un," he exclaimed, i

in English. "Whoever seed a bad I

e lyin' varmint or we shan't find o

live Comanche, I regarded this specimen with some curiosity;

th and pair of leggins. The leggins extended from the knee, down; and, w

the arm free and unobstructed, and then hung loosely behind him, almost touching the ground as he sat upo

from his ears, were suspended, heavy rings of brass wire. These, with the paint, gave him a most diabolical e

looking, iron-headed spear, which, wit

t. Then he said that he had that mornin met with a party of Comanches, who had with them two prisoners,- mere bo

o release the captives for a small ransom. He was a friend, and begged us to remembe

ler that story o' his'n. It's true enuff though, that they've got the youngsters, and it's likely

d upon, and the brave rode off to bring the boys, while Jerry and I started for the train to pr

orward to make the exchange. This was soon effected, and they left us with profuse expressions of regard; although, from the haste di

isposed to grumble at the idea of having them along, in a trip across the plai

nies got frightened and ran away; when they

t, and walked directly into the midst of a party of fifteen Comanches, who were as much surprised at seeing two youngsters a

pped them of nearly all their clothing. Then they tried to ascertain w

t they were lost, and that their friends would give a great

hey thought was antelope meat, so they ate heartily of it, for they were very hungry. When they had nearly satisfied their appetites, Hal fished up from the depths of t

he morning they were rudely awakened and told to mount a pony, to w

, and were endeavoring to prepare themselves for the worst, when,

joy, quite overpowered them; and, for the

think we didn't care a snap about it. But we did, though, I can

he boys looked into each others faces

ey were obliged many times to repeat their story, not forgetting