IN THE OLD WEST 229 



were securely hobbled, and a horse-guard posted 

 round them a service of great danger, as the 

 stealthy cat-like Diggers are often known to steal 

 up silently, under cover of the darkness, towards 

 the sentinel, shoot him with their arrows, and, ap- 

 proaching the animals, cut the hobbles and drive 

 them away unseen. 



One night they encamped on a creek where was 

 but little of the coarsest pasture, and that little 

 scattered here and there, so that they were com- 

 pelled to allow their animals to roam farther than 

 usual from camp in search of food. Four of the 

 hunters, however, accompanied them to guard 

 against surprise ; whilst but half of those in camp 

 lay down to sleep, the others, with rifles in their 

 hands, remaining prepared for any emergency. 

 This day they had killed one of their two pack- 

 mules for food, game not having been met with 

 for several days ; but the animal was so poor that 

 it scarcely afforded more than one tolerable meal 

 to the whole party. 



A short time before the dawn of day an alarm 

 was given; the animals were heard to snort vio- 

 lently; a loud shout was heard, followed by the 

 sharp crack of a rifle, and the tramp of galloping 

 horses plainly showed that a stampede had been 

 affected. The whites instantly sprang to their 

 arms, and rushed in the direction of the sounds. 

 The body of the cavallada, however, had luckily 

 turned, and, being headed by the mountaineers, 



