[Footnote 23: So sacred are the laws of hospitality among these Indians,
that a dozen lives would be sacrificed if required, to save that of a
guest. In sacrificing himself for Roche, the Comanche considered that he
was doing a mere act of duty.]
[Illustration: "They galloped across the plain, dragging after them
three mangled bodies."]
The report of the rifles recalled Roche to his senses, and joining once
more the three remaining Indians, he rushed madly upon the hunters, and,
closing with one of them, he ripped him up with his knife, while the
Comanches had each of them successfully thrown their lassoes, and now
galloped across the plain, dragging after them three mangled bodies:
Roche recovered his saddle and holsters, and taking with him the corpse
of the noble-minded Indian, he gave to his companions the signal for
retreat, as the remaining hunters were flying at full speed towards
their camp, and succeeded in giving the alarm. An hour after, they
returned to us, and, upon their report, it was resolved that we should
attack the Texans that very night.
About ten o'clock we started, divided into three bands of seventy men
each, which made our number about equal to that of the Texans; Roche,
who was disabled, with fifteen Indians and the five Americans remaining
in the camp.
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