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"Have the Jicarillas beards on their faces and jewels on their fingers?" "No mother; why do you ask such a question? you know they have no beards! My poor mother!" added he, turning to Don Juan; "this terrible stroke has taken her senses!"
He was also on friendly terms with some of its chiefs, though these were now at war with the more northern settlements. But the Jicarillas still returned to his mind. These were Indians of a cowardly, brutal disposition, and his mortal foes. They would have scalped him on sight.
The trump cards seem to drop right into your hands. You send a force at the request of this fellow, who is a nobody here. You do him a service, and yourself at the same time. It will tell well, I warrant you." "But for him to act as guide?" "Let him! So much the better that will satisfy all parties. He won't find his Jicarillas, ha! ha ha! of course; but let the fool have his whim!"
On the south our country is harassed by the Wolf and Mezcalero Apaches, on the north by their kindred, the Jicarillas; while, now and then, it pleases our present allies the Utahs, to ornament their shields with the scalps of our people, and their wigwams with the fairest of our women. Carrambo! senor! a happy country ours, is it not?"
"What tribe?" simultaneously inquired the officers, both with an earnestness of manner and a slight trepidation in their voices; "what tribe? Were they not Yutas?" "No," answered the cibolero, while he observed the continued confusion of his questioners. "Who, then?" "I believe," replied Carlos, "they were not Yutas more likely my sworn foes, the Jicarillas."
"Why think you they are the Jicarillas?" asked the Comandante, once more breathing freely. "Partly because there were so few of them," replied Carlos. "Had they been Yutas " "But they were not so few. The shepherds report a large band. They have carried off immense numbers of cattle.
Carlos stood by the bedside of his mother to take leave. She beckoned him near. She was still weak, for blood had flown freely from her, and her voice was low and feeble. "My son," said she, as Carlos bent over her, "know you what Indians you are going to pursue?" "No, mother," replied Carlos, "but I fear they are our enemies the Jicarillas."
"But suppose, camarado, he falls upon our trail? the cattle?" "He is not going in that direction; besides, if he did, we are not bound to follow such trails as he may choose for us; but he has said he is not going that way he don't intend to follow a trail. He knows some nest of these Jicarillas in the mountains, like enough; and to rout them there's a bit of glory for some one.
By late breakfast to-morrow I shall make my report to you, Desperate affair with Jicarillas, or Yutas several warriors killed female captive rescued valiant conduct of troops recommend Corporal for promotion, etcetera. Ha! ha! ha!"
They never sight the returning Texans, nor these them. The Rangers go down the river; the savages up stream. Of all Apaches, of all Indians, the Jicarillas are the most contemptible cowards. Dastards to the last degree, the young "braves" who mutilated the slain lancers will return to their tribe to tell of scalps fairly taken in fight!
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