3<3 ADVENTURES OF DR. ALLEN. 



however, that we should be compelled to exercise continual 

 vigilance. John Wustun, Thomas Nickelson and myself 

 were detailed to overlook the ground and make the final ar- 

 rangements for the attack. Each man, with a magazine rifle 

 and a belt full of cartridges, crawled up to within fifty 

 yards of the camp. We found the Indians in the mouth of a 

 deep, narrow canyon, their horses above them in the can- 

 yon, which made it impossible for the animals to get out 

 without passing over their masters' beds. They had some 

 fine war-horses, with Pintos and sorrels which showed good 

 blood, but all were firmly hobbled and picketed. 



Believing that we had secured the best possible location, 

 Nickelson, being very light of foot, went after the other 

 boys. The Indians were cooking and not a word could be 

 heard. The fires, made of buffalo chips, whose flame re- 

 sembles that of charcoal, were blinded as much as possible. 

 After the savages had finished their supper I expected to 

 see a scalp dance ; but in this I was disappointed, for they no 

 doubt felt it more prudent to wait until their return home, 

 when all, old and young, male and female, might mingle in 

 the jollity, while the sounds of the tomtom would keep time 

 to the fiendish actions and the "Hey, hey, a hey, hey, a hey !" 

 so curdling to the blood of a white person. 



I could plainly see the goods taken from the emigrant's 

 wagon, and the sight made me run my hand along the barrel 

 of my rifle to clear all obstacles and push a cartridge care- 

 fully home. I knew it would not be long until they would 

 begin to look after their horses and prepare to sleep. We 

 occupied the point just over the canyon on the south, where 

 we held the party of Indians in full view, although we could 

 not see them as well as we desired, for they glided around 

 stealthily, sometimes appearing in the shadows like wild ani- 

 mals. Our party soon came up eager for the attack. One 



