48 ADVENTURES OF DR. ALLEN. 



feet, seized their guns and commenced shooting just over 

 the ridge. A few shots were returned. I guessed that they 

 were firing at some of our men, for their actions did not in- 

 dicate that they were after game. Unseen by them, I gave 

 them a volley of five well-directed shots. At that moment 

 Grizzly Bill (as we had nicknamed him) came dashing 

 past on his little charger, like a bird on the wing. He alone 

 had borne the fire of the enemy. I did not stop to see what 

 effect my shots had had, but their cries told that some of the 

 bullets had not missed their mark. They discontinued the 

 fray, dragging their effects out of sight. 



Night was now coming on apace. I had been wander- 

 ing around since early morn, and was still some distance 

 from home, for which I made a bee line, directed by the 

 smoke of the campfires. When I arrived there I found that 

 I had been given up for dead. Mitten felt sure that I had 

 been scalped by Indians, and was thinking how he had best 

 break the news to my family. He had long before prophe- 

 sied that my recklessness would sooner or later lead me to 

 my death. After eating a lonely meal, for it was long past 

 the supper hour, I felt as well as ever. 



Just as we were starting out in the morning, a white- 

 tail fawn as spotted as a leopard crossed the road in front 

 of us. "Now for a race, Charlie !" I said, and away we went 

 over sagebrush, prickly-pears and fallen logs, but soon over- 

 took it, as its hind leg was broken. It looked so meek and 

 cried so piteously that I hardly had the heart to kill it; but 

 meat we must have, and I quickly dispatched it. Several of 

 the boys were in an engagement with sagehens, and I joined 

 in the sport. Altogether we killed a number. We then 

 dressed them and skinned the fawn. 



"Allen," said one of the boys, pointing to a large covey 

 of grouse (bonasa umbellus) "we will give you a test." I 



