TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1825-1843
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seemed disappointed in not receiving it. The necessity of send- ing another is thus avoided-Preparations were also made by the tribe for a move-Upon driving up our horses two were found to be absent-I mentioned the fact to Pah-hah-yuco who immediately sent some of his Mexican servants in search of them-They shortly returned and reported not only the loss of ours, but five of their own-Enquiry was then made and it was ascertained that a Mexican prisoner had taken this opportunity to escape, and it was supposed he had driven off the horses with him-The Chief then informed me that he had sent in pursuit a,1d if my horses were recovered he would take charge of, and return them at the council in December- About midday we started on our return for the Wichita village-The Chief re- mained at my tent until all his people were out of sight, when bidding us a kind farewell he mounted his horse and left us- On the 11th about noon we met a chief of one of the associate bands of Comanche who had been to the Wichita village for corn-As he had some fine mules with him, our Delaware as a matter of course encamped and trading commenced, and no commands or remonstrances on my part could induce them to start before noon the next day, so that another entire day was lost-- On the 12th we arrived at the Wichita village- On the 13th I ascertained that the Chiefs would not be ready to start for two days, so I con- cluded it best to return immediately to Bird's Fort and apprise the Commissioners of the delay on the part of the indians and prevent their adjourning without having a council-I left M1· Torrey of his own choice, to come down with the indians and impressed upon him the importance of urging them on as rap- idly as possible-He expressed an anxiety to return and assured me that he would exert himself in every way to accomplish what I desired-I started in the evening and travelled about fifteen miles. On the 15th my horses and pack mules having very sore backs and nearly broken down, I en- camped early in the evening to enable them to recruit a little, when to my great surprise Second-Eye, whom I had selected as a guide, took a notion to start and actually left me in the prairies with but one voung Delaware, who did not speak English and
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