“These stampedes are a source of great profit to the Indians of the Plains.  It is by this means they deprive the caravans of their animals.  The Comanches are particularly expert and daring in this kind of robbery.  They even train horses to run from one given point to another, in expectation of caravans.  When a camp is made which is nearly in range, they turn their trained animals loose, who at once fly across the plain, penetrating and passing through the camp of their victims.  All of the picketed animals will attempt to follow, and usually succeed.  Such are invariably led into the haunts of the thieves, who easily secure them.

“Young horses and mules are easily frightened.  And, in the havoc which generally ensues, oftentimes great injury is done to the runaways themselves.  The sight of a stampede on a grand scale, requires steady nerves to witness without tremor.  And woe to the footman who cannot get out of the way when the frightened animals come along.  At times, when the herd is large, the horses scatter over the open country and are irrecoverably lost.

“A favorite policy of the Indian horse thieves is to creep into camp, cut loose one animal and thoroughly frighten him.  This animal seldom fails to frighten the remainder, when away they all go with long ropes and picket-pins dangling after them.  The latter sometimes act like harpoons, being thrown with such impetus as to strike and instantly kill a valuable steed from among the brother runaways.  At other times the limbs of the running horses get entangled in the ropes, and they are suddenly thrown.  Such seldom escape without broken legs or severe contusions, which are often incurable.  The necessity of travelling on, without delay, renders it an impossibility to undertake the cure, when it might be practicable under other circumstances.”

The next day the party of trappers travelled fifty miles, till they thought themselves beyond the reach of the hostile savages.  Still they knew how stealthily their trail might be followed, and they were vigilant to guard against surprise.  They selected, for their night’s encampment, a beautiful spot upon the banks of a clear mountain stream, which emptied into the Arkansas river.  They had there a smooth and verdant meadow, of limited extent, affording fine pasturage.  Here the wearied animals were strongly picketed.  There was also a grove, where they could obtain fuel and timber for such camp protection as they might require.

It was nearly dark when they reached this spot, hungry and tired after the long journey of the day.  But their camp-fires soon blazed brightly.  Rich viands of choice cuts of venison and other game, were cooked by artistic hands.  And the mountain springs afforded them cool and delicious water.  With ravenous appetites they partook of a feast which any gourmand might covet.  And then wrapped in their furs, and surrounded by the silence and solitude of the wilderness, with the whole wild scene illumined by their fires, they fell asleep.  In accordance with invariable custom a careful guard was set.