It was the second night before. Upon reaching the grove of trees she had entered and tied her horse, while she searched around for berries or something to eat. It was then that the panther had come upon her.
Knowing that she must be hungry, the young hunter left her for awhile, but returned ere long with a brace of birds which with a true hunter’s skill he prepared for the spit. Then a fire was kindled, and in due time the savory repast was ready.
They were not long in dispatching this, and then, after a good drink of water from the cool spring, the Donna declared herself ready for her ride homeward.
Of course Chauncy had resolved to accompany her to the hacienda of her father, and the two started off, going in a southerly direction.
As they rode along, Chauncy noticed that the Donna’s horse seemed quite tired, and he decided to stop in the next clump of trees they came to.
It was nearly three hours before they reached this, and then they were amply repaid for their trouble, for in the cool, shady grove was a spring of water.
The two horses were tied to trees, and then the two young people wandered about among the trees, talking and laughing.
Had the hunter been an old hand at Indian-fighting he would never have idled the precious time away in this manner.
That the Comanches would follow up the Donna’s trail was a sure thing, and delay was dangerous.
But entirely unconscious of what they were doing, the two remained in the grove for several hours.