A FRIGHT. 107 



flowers down, but I did, for on coming to myself I saw 

 they were lying at my feet. I looked around, nothing 

 seemed changed or strange. I put my hand on my fore- 

 head, it was perspiring profusely. The air was hot enough 

 to have made a lizard perspire. I felt my pulse, it was 

 beating fuller and faster than usual, but as steadily as a 

 chronometer. Clearly I was all right. I looked down 

 at the flowers, and as I did so noticed that the plants I 

 stood on were shrunken and wilted. An explanation oc- 

 curred to me. Carefully I approached the tip of my 

 finger to a ^luxuriant plant growing in front of me. As 

 my finger neared it its leaves drew back, commenced to 

 crumple up, to change colour. I had been frightened by 

 sensitive plants. Of course I kept my counsel, but felt 

 utterly disgusted with myself. 



For years I had been used to danger, and so often, on 

 finding myself in great and sudden peril, had I been 

 stimulated, not alarmed, that I had deluded myself into a 

 belief, no matter what happened, I should never more feel 

 frightened. I shall not have such confidence in myself 

 again. Like the Denverites, during the " Indian scare," I 

 had been terrified by an imaginary danger, for oh, most 

 lame and impotent conclusion ! Denver was unmolested, 

 and soon its citizens were heartily ashamed of themselves. 

 To say " Indian," was to say a " fighting word," and the 

 mayor went about telling everybody in confidence that 

 he never had any apprehension of an attack ; had only 

 issued the proclamation to inspire confidence and allay 

 fear. It was on the Platte route, from Denver City to 



