222 ARRIVAL OF LIEUTENANT BAYARD^S DETACHMENT. 



detachment, when at the trading post, dismounted to 

 refresh after their hurried march across the burning 

 plains, when shortly after word was given to mount, and 

 Mr Bayard ordered the prisoner to unfasten the larriet of 

 his pony from the picket-pin, and to prepare to ac 

 company the escort. The redskin had previously been 

 made to deliver up his arms at least all arms that were 

 visible consisting of his bow and arrows and a knife ; 

 his arrows, some of which (given me by Mr Bayard) are 

 now in my possession, are stained to the feathers with 

 blood. On receiving the order to unfasten his pony, he 

 asserted that he could not undo a knot, and he asked 

 the man at the trading post to lend him a knife to cut 

 the cord. On receiving the knife he cut the cord, and 

 jumped upon his pony, endeavouring at the same time to 

 conceal the knife in his bosom. On this the owner of the 

 weapon called out that the Indian had got the knife, 

 and desired him to return it, when the prisoner tossed it 

 in at the door, and, wheeling round instantly set off at 

 full speed in a desperate attempt at escape. 



So suddenly was this done that the men of the escort, 

 who were not yet mounted, were taken by surprise ; 

 not so, however, was Mr Bayard. He was mounted on 

 a favourite buffalo hunting horse, afterwards brought 

 to my knowledge, and at once gave the rein to his 

 smooth-going and willing steed, who in a very few 

 strides outpaced the Indian pony, and, running round 

 him, Mr Bayard, revolver in hand, ordered the dark 

 rider to halt and return to custody on pain of instant 

 death. To this order Pawnee paid no attention, but 

 scowled defiance, urging his fast pony to its utmost 

 speed, when Mr Bayard, passing him again and pulling 

 across him in a humane attempt to intimidate (such 



