describing him by the absence of a front tooth, alleging that on some former occasion Humphries had depredated upon them. This was known to be false and a ruse to gain some advantage, while holding the leader of the whites as a hostage.

When the chief returned, after a brief consultation with some of his warriors, and again demanded Humphries, the whites replied of one accord: "Our captain is a good man, had done them no wrong and that they would die right there rather than give up an innocent man to such thieving, murderous wretches."*  Mr. Wallace was the interpreter and spokesman. His spirit was infectious. Every man leveled his gun at some one of the redskins, Hopkins holding a deadly aim on the chief, till they all agreed to leave and not further molest them, and at once wheeled and dashed away. Intensified coolness in this crisis had saved the settlers -- the Indians were unwilling to hazard a fight with such determined men. The hunters did not tarry longer, but made their way homeward at quickened gait, lest the red devils again beset them.

In order that we may further understand the manner in which these few settlers protected themselves against the wild Indians, I will call your attention to the semi-civilized tribes of Indians then living in this section -- a tribe of Kickapoos, a tribe of Shawnees, and a tribe of Delawares.

Memorials to the memory of these friendly Indians still remain on the records of Red River
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*See [John Henry] Brown's "Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas", P. 17.