They waded as far across as it was possible, and the horses gallantly swam the remaining distance with their riders upon their backs.
Upon reaching the other bank the four made haste to take the saddles from their horses, and after hoppling the animals, they were left alone to eat the rich grass which was plentiful underneath the trees, and which was not dry and withered like that on the prairie, for the simple reason that the sun did not get at it so much.
A fire was quickly started, and soon Ralph heard the crack of the young hunter’s rifle a short distance away.
The latter soon came into sight with his rifle slung across his back, and dragging the carcass of a young buck he had shot.
Ralph carved out a dozen fine steaks, and as the fire was progressing finely and without hardly any smoke, the four were soon busily engaged in cooking their steaks over the flames.
When the meat was done to a turn, they proceeded to make it disappear, and as only four steaks out of the twelve were left, when all were done, we might safely say that the appetites of the whites had not suffered any on account of the terrible death from which they had escaped the evening before.
The horses seemed to be enjoying themselves hugely, if one might judge by the way they “went for” the sweet grass.
They needed a good rest, and all four of the men decided to remain in the grove the whole of that day, and to start off the next morning. And even had the others wanted to go that day, Monsieur Tierney would have refused point blank to move until the next morning.
He wanted to take a look around the woods, and would not forego that exquisite pleasure (to him at least), for any Comanches.
So immediately after he had finished his breakfast, he started off with his case in his hand, his umbrella fastened to his back, and his tiny revolver in his belt.