LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 183 



At night the animals 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, approaching 

 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 compelled to allow 

 their animals to roam farther than usual from camp in 

 search of food. Four of the hunters, however, accom- 

 panied 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 violently ; 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 effected. 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, were 

 surrounded and secured, with the loss of only three, 

 which had probably been mounted by the Indians. 



