Oliver Loving and his companion, cowboy Bill Wilson, were riding far ahead of the herd when the Comanchee struck,

forcing him to take refuge in a little bend on the Pacas River.

Loving managed to kill the first warrior who exposed himself, after which the rest were a bit more cautious.

Rather than risk a frontal assault, the Comanchees simply commenced to reining down arrows.

Still, though, despite holding off the attackers, both Loving and Wilson were wounded in the initial

onslaught, with Loving getting the worst of it.

The 54-year-old Cattleman's wrist had been shattered by a bullet that passed cleared through

and lodged inside.

And as the siege continued, Loving's condition would only worsen. The pain and blood

loss soon accompanied by a fever. During a moment of clarity, he persuaded the much younger Wilson

to try to escape and locate help, saying that he would stand the Comanche's off as best he could.

The two shook hands, divvied up their ammo, and as soon as the moon went down, Wilson carefully

removed his boots and slid into the Pacas. After letting the current carry him downstream

of ways, he set off on a three-day odyssey across the prairie. In search of that aforementioned

herd of cattle, which at that point in time was being led by Oliver Loving's partner, Charles Goodnight. Upon laying eyes on

Wilson, Goodnight would recount that he was the most terrible object he had ever seen. Quote,

his eyes were wild and bloodshot. His feet were swollen beyond all reason, and every step he took

left blood in the track. I inquired about loving, but he could scarcely make a reply, and what he did

mutter was entirely unintelligible. And quote, as soon as Wilson could get the words out, he told

goodnight about what had transpired, and without wasting no more time, the former Ranger hopped

into the saddle and rode out in search of his friend. Quote, I found where Mr. Loving had been in the ditch, which was now half filled with stones,

and its banks perforated with probably a hundred aeroshafts.

...