“Where he went afterwards I do not attempt to say. You all know that—I believe, better than I. I can only tell you, that, after unhorsing, he left me under the limb, with a lump upon my forehead and a painful swelling in the knee; neither of which I knew anything about till two hours afterwards.
“When my senses came back to me, I saw the sun high up in the heavens, and some scores of turkey buzzards wheeling in circles above me. I could tell by the craning of their necks what was the prey they were expecting.
“The sight of them, as well as my thirst—that was beginning to grow painful—prompted me to move away from the place.
“On rising to my feet, I discovered that I could not walk. Worse still, I was scarce able to stand.
“To stay on that spot was to perish—at least I so thought at the time.
“Urged by the thought, I exerted all the strength left me, in an effort to reach water.
“I knew there was a stream near by; and partly by crawling,—partly by the help of a rude crutch procured in the thicket—I succeeded in reaching it.
“Having satisfied my thirst, I felt refreshed; and soon after fell asleep.
“I awoke to find myself surrounded by coyotés.
“There were at least two score of them; and although at first I had no fear—knowing their cowardly nature—I was soon brought to a different way of thinking.