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Updated: June 8, 2025
The thought has flashed across his mind that the man waiting to be ushered into his presence may be a messenger from the Horned Lizard; and with the Tenawa chief he desires no further dealings at least for a time. Therefore, the belief of its being an emissary from his red-skinned confederate somewhat discomposes him. The reply of his subordinate, however, reassures him.
And be slain afterwards! Before which to be tortured, perhaps dragged at the horse's tail, or set up as a target for the Tenawa sharpshooters to practise at. No! They would have to die anyhow. Better now than then. They were not the men to offer both cheeks to the insulter. They could resign sweet life, but death would be all the sweeter with corpses of Indians lying thickly around them.
On counting the corpses of their slain enemies they find that at least one-half of the Tenawa warriors have fallen, including their chief. They can make an approximate estimate of the number that was opposed to them by the signs visible around the camp, as also upon the trail they have been for several days following.
Thus would it have been with the Tenawa chief and his band, but for a circumstance of a somewhat unusual kind. As is known, the attack on the prairie traders was not so much an affair of the Horned Lizard as his confederate, the military commandant of Albuquerque. The summons had come to him unexpected, and after he had planned his descent on the Texas settlement.
Further examination, and cross-examination, elicit other facts about the captured caravan in short, everything, except the secret alliance between the Mexican officer and the Tenawa chief. Not thinking of this in truth, having no suspicion of it his examiners do not put any questions about it; and, for himself, the wretch sees no reason to declare it, but the contrary.
And there was another individual by his side, who had also hair upon his cheeks, though thinner and more straggling; while the speech passing between the two was not the guttural tongue of the Tenawa Comanches, but pure Mexican Spanish. Both were on foot, having dismounted; he with the heavy beard leading, the other keeping after as if in attendance.
For himself he is more than ever determined; while Roblez, restrained by the fiasco following his advice, no longer offers opposition. Uraga has no fear the Tenawa chief will fail him. He has never done so before, and will not now. The new proposal, which the colonel supposes to have reached the hands of Horned Lizard in that letter carried by Pedrillo, will be eagerly accepted.
It was through him the Tenawa chief was first brought to communicate with the military robber, Uraga. The Indian bivouac is down in the creek bottom in a little valley, on both sides flanked by precipitous cliffs. Above and below these approach each other, so near as to leave only a narrow path along the edge of the stream.
Durn me! I'm still a wonderin' what Injuns they war; I'm a'most sartint thar the Tenawa Kimanch a band o' the Buffler-eaters an' the wust lot on all the parairia. Many's the fight we rangers used to hev wi' 'em, and many's the one o' 'em this child hev rubbed out.
On reaching the summit they again see them, though so far off as to be barely visible black specks against the blue canopy of the sky. Still near enough to show a large number circling about over some object that appears stationary. This last observation seems satisfactory to the Tenawa chief, who, turning to his fellow-freebooter, shouts out, "Nothing to fear.
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