64 ON THE FRONTIER. 



and tied behind, and we started on the back track. I 

 believe the mules considered we had gone crazy ; a start in 

 the middle of the night was a novel experience to them, and 

 they showed their disapproval of such a proceeding most 

 unmistakably. 



At daybreak we halted well in the open for a short rest 

 to water the animals at a little prairie creek we had just 

 crossed, and to eat a hasty meal ourselves. Breakfast con- 

 sisted of some fresh meat that had been hung to the waggon 

 bows, boiled in a fryingpan, and the strongest of hot coffee ; 

 bread we did not bother with, there was none made and no 

 time to make any. 



As it would not do to trust entirely to our conjectures, 

 and as there might be unknown Indian dangers in our front, 

 it was decided to commence taking proper precautions. 



The horsemen should mount, ride forward a mile or 

 two, one of them take up a commanding position on some 

 eminence as a vidette or look-out ; the other ride still farther 

 forward and do likewise ; when the waggon should get 

 abreast of the farther one the vidette who would then be the 

 rearguard should push ahead and become the advance one ; 

 and so, if danger was descried, there would be time for 

 deliberation and preparation. If the vidette in the rear 

 should see a party of Indians in pursuit, whose strength 

 rendered the chances of defence desperate, he was to dis- 

 charge his revolver thrice with the utmost rapidity ; at that 

 signal the traces were to be cut, the three best mules 

 mounted, and it was to be considered a case of sauve quipeut 

 a run for our lives : " Every man for himself, and the 

 devil take the hindmost." 



