the mountain springs, where we spent the night, and the next
morning we took leave of one another. I promised to join
them the next winter on the Puerco, when a great council of
the Comanches was to take place. They often looked with
tears in their eyes in the direction of the Fort: then they
offered me their hand once again and rode off, never again to
cross the threshold of my house, to which they were so attached.
   Tiger too seemed dissatisfied at the new settlements, and
could not understand how people could have an objection to
his pulling down the fences and riding across the fields to save
distance. They had also forbidden him taking dry corn
leaves for his horse out of the stacks, or fastening his piebald
to the grand stockade in front of the house, while he went in
to beg a drink of water. What I had long foreseen happened,
he was beginning to feel the trammels of civilization and
wrestled against them, while its comforts still attracted him.
Shortly after Pahajuka's departure Tiger's tribe arrived in
the neighbourhood of the Fort, and the chief paid me a visit
with several of his warriors. He told me that Tiger wished
to go home with them, in order to see his relations and return
to me in the following spring. Though I felt sorry for it, I
saw that he could not remain much longer in our settlement
without parting from us on unfriendly terms: hence I offered
no objection, and on the day of their departure I accompanied
them as far as Widow White's, as I wanted to pay a visit to
Mac on Mustang River. I took a hearty farewell of Tiger, as
I was really attached to him, and he was obliged to promise
me a visit ere long.
  The next day I rode to Macdonnell's, when I found every-
thing prospering. His field had produced a rich maize crop,
and was now covered with beans, potatoes, melons, gourds,
c. His orchard already contained fine young trees; his
garden supplied him and his negroes with magnificent vege-
tables. The yard round his house was crowded with poultry
of every description, and the interior of his blockhouse was
very neat and tidy. A large new patchwork quilt was thrown



427



CONCLUSION.