12 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 



Injuns were among the cavayard. I saw Ned Colly er 

 and his brother, who were in the hos'-guard, let drive 

 at 'em ; but twenty Pawnees were round 'em before 

 the smoke cleared from their rifles ; and when the crowd 

 broke, the two boys were on the ground and their hair 

 gone. Well, that ar Englishman just saved the cava- 

 yard. He had his horse, a regular buffalo-runner, 

 picketed round the fire quite handy, and as soon as he 

 sees the fix, he jumps upon her and rides right into the 

 thick of the mules, and passes through 'em, firing his 

 two-shoot gun at the Injuns, and, by Gor, he made two 

 come. The mules, which was a-snortin' with funk and 

 running before the Injuns, as soon as they see the 

 Englishman's mare, (mules '11 go to h after a horse, 

 you all know,) followed her right into the corral, and 

 thar they was safe. Fifty Pawnees came schreechin' 

 after 'em, but we was ready that time, and the way we 

 throw'd 'em was something handsome, I tell you. But 

 three of the hos'-guardgot skeared leastwise their mules 

 did, and carried 'em off into the peraira, and the Injuns 

 having enough of us, dashed after 'em right away. 

 Them poor devils looked back miserable now, with 

 about a hundred red varmints tearin' after their hair, 

 and whooping like mad. Young Jem Bulcher was the 

 last ; and when he seed it was no use, and his time 

 was nigh, he throw'd himself off the mule, and standing 

 as upright as a hickory wiping-stick, he waves his hand 

 to us, and blazes away at the first Injun as come up, 

 and dropped him slick ; but the moment after, you 

 may guess, he died. 



