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Retum of Rabago am/, the Founding of Ca,1011 11'/issions
had killed their chief and many of their companions and had mutilated them that they might tell their people what they might expect. Great indignation seized the entire camp and the Mescaleros swore to avenge themseh-es by beginning on their guests from New Mexico. They took from them all their clothes, arms, horses, and the letters from Governor Velez and declared they would feast upon the victims on the following day. Romero, who understood their language, did not wait for daylight, but secretly made his escape with his companions that night. He told how in a war council held early that night the chief had urged all the Mescaleros of the ranclieria on the sand-dunes along the Pecos to steal as many horses as possible from the Spaniards, to make many bows and arrows, and to kill all the cattle and all the Spaniards they came across, because the Mescaleros would never again make peace with them. Romero later revealed that in the rancheria there were three captive boys: one from New Mexico and two from Coahuila. According to the description, one of them was a boy from Santa Rosa, who was lost or stolen from his father four years before while the two were on their way to the Rio Grande. The father had halted for a short rest on the banks of the Rio de los Alamos and the young boy had walked to the water's edge. When his father called him the boy was nowhere to be found. In the ranclzerza he had also noted a quantity of horses, mules, mares. and even breed donkeys, besides long rifles, some arquebuses, and several suits of Spanish clothes. After running away from the Mescaleros they came upon a Lipan rancleeria, just about two leagues away. The chief was friendly, greeted them kindly, and furnished them guides to lead them to San Saba. when he found out that it was their destination. For ten days they continued on their way, until they came to the Lipan village of Chief Bigotes ( Mustaches), called Loma Pinta (Paint Rock). Here they spent the night and started out again the following morning. They had gone only a short distance, when they were overtaken by a messenger from Loma Pinta, who came to inform them that a party of Spaniards had arrh-ed in the rancleeria that morning. The two messengers from New Mexico returned to the village of Chief Bigotes and met Captain Manuel Rodriguez, from Presidio de la Junta de los Rios. who had surrounded the rancheria and had taken it without any resistance on the part of the Lipans. Romero and Miraval told Captain Rodriguez the object of their journey and all that had befallen them since their departure from Pecos, New Mexico. Captain Rodriguez and his men were accompanied by one of the mis-
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