For they have kindled no fires, nor taken other steps that indicate an encampment for the night.
Different with those that soar over the halting-place of the pursued.
As night approaches they draw in their spread wings and settle down to roost; some upon trees, others on the ledges of rock, still others on the summits of the cliffs that overhang the camping place of the Indians.
The blazing fires, with meat on spits sputtering over them; the arms abandoned, spears stuck in the ground, with shields suspended; the noise and revelry around--all proclaim the resolve of the savages to stay there till morning.
An intention which, despite their apparent stolidity--in contradiction to the ideas of the closet naturalist and his theory of animal instinct--the vultures clearly comprehend.
About the behaviour of the birds the marauders take no note.

They are used to seeing turkey-buzzards around--better known to them by the name "zopilotes." For long ere the Anglo-American colonists came in contact with the Comanche Indians a Spano-Mexican vocabulary had penetrated to the remotest of these tribes.
No new thing for the Tenawas to see the predatory birds swooping above them all day and staying near them all night.

Not stranger than a wolf keeping close to the sheepfold, or a hungry dog skulking around shambles.
As night draws near, and the purple twilight steals over the great Texan plain, the party of chasing pursuers is relieved from a stay by all deemed so irksome.

Remounting their horses, they leave the scene of their reluctant halt, and continue the pursuit silently, as if moving in funeral march.
The only sounds heard are the dull thumping of their horses' hoofs upon the soft prairie turf; now and then a clink, as one strikes against a stone; the occasional tinkle of a canteen as it comes in contact with saddle mounting or pistol butt; the champing of bits, with the breathing of horses and men.
These last talk in low tones, in mutterings not much louder than whispers.

In pursuit of their savage foe, the well-trained Rangers habitually proceed thus, and have cautioned the settlers to the same.
Though these need no compulsion to keep silent; their hearts are too sore for speech; their anguish, in its terrible intensity, seeks for no expression, till they stand face to face with the red ruffians who have caused, and are still causing, it.