SURROUNDED BY KIOWAS 



stepped out, forgetting for the moment the Indian 

 who was watching for a shot at me. He failed to 

 take advantage of the opportunity, for he saw 

 that he was trapped and made a dash up out of 

 the ravine and ran for the nearest point of bushes 

 just back of our burned haystack. 



I called to Bill, who was on the same side of the 

 ravine as the fleeing Kiowa: 



"Head him off, Bill! Kill him! Kill him!" 



The scout instantly turned his horse and dashed 

 after the Indian, who, seeing that he could not 

 reach the brush before being overtaken, halted, 

 turned, took deliberate aim at the oncoming horse- 

 man, and fired. 



Down went horse and rider in a heap. The 

 Kiowa dropped his rifle, drew his knife, and 

 started forward to finish his fallen foe. As Bill 

 was now between me and the Indian I was afraid 

 to fire for fear of hitting my friend, who, I saw, was 

 struggling to free himself from his dead horse. I 

 ran across the ravine to where I thought I could 

 help Bill, and before I reached the top of the bank 

 on the other side I heard a shot and then Bill's 

 war-whoop. 



When I got in sight of them again Bill was still 

 lying down, one foot under his dead horse, and 

 the Kiowa was lying a few feet from him. 



I rushed to him and helped to free him from his 

 horse. On getting on his feet he assured me that 

 he was not hurt, and then, looking toward the 



363 



