Agreed that nine years is probably (not knowing all the details) disproportionate. But the Wikipedia article mentions the tree is sacred to the Comanche. Comp

Agreed that nine years is probably (not knowing all the details) disproportionate. But the Wikipedia article mentions the tree is sacred to the Comanche. Compared to what he would have endured at their hands hundreds of years ago, had he been caught by them, he's lucky :)