TWENTY YEARS IN THE ROCKIES. 2p 



they came out on the same side they had entered, about one 

 hundred yards below us. We at once sent a volley of bullets, 

 and two Indians swung out of their saddles. Like a flash 

 the Indians started for a green forest far down the valley, 

 with our party in swift pursuit. Our repeaters were making 

 the valley ring and we saw another warrior writhing in 

 death. But at this point the Indians swung into a rough ra- 

 vine and disappeared. 



We followed a short distance and found blood on the 

 trail, whether this was from horse or rider we could not de- 

 termine, but, for our own safety, we returned and scalped 

 the three Indians, who were laden with plunder from emi- 

 grant trains. Flour and sugar were found on one warrior. 

 We soon started once more in pursuit of those who had es- 

 caped us. After traveling about ten miles we found the trail 

 very fresh. Water carried on to the bank by the feet of the 

 horses was not yet dry. We held a short council, then sent 

 out scouts with field-glasses to search for the savages. At 

 sundown they returned, having located about thirty Indians 

 in a camp in a small basin in the valley of the Red Water. 

 We drew as near their camp as possible, avoiding all chances 

 of being discovered. We ate a lunch and then Thomas Nick- 

 elson and myself started to make a survey. It being moon- 

 light we soon located the camp, where the savages were al- 

 ready in motion. Their camp fires still smouldered. We fol- 

 lowed them about a mile further to the place where they 

 went into camp for the night. This camp-moving is an old 

 trick of the Indians to deceive their enemies and to induce 

 them to make a charge on an abandoned camp. Having once 

 more assured ourselves of their location, we crept softly 

 away and soon rejoined our comrades. 



We planned to "cache" our horses, leave five good men 

 with them, while fifteen went to attack the camp. We knew, 



