342 ON THE FBONTIER. 



deposit, looking not unlike a moraine, and for its entire 

 length yielded more or less placer gold. 



We crossed diagonally this ridge at a distance of about 

 seventy yards from the Lone Oak, and " a surprise " was the 

 immediate consequence. 



As we came suddenly in view of the spot, our appearance 

 was the signal for a war- party of about forty or fifty Indians 

 to start to their feet right from under the oak itself. 



We opened the ball instantly. Without deliberation, 

 without hesitation, our rifles came to our shoulders, and we 

 delivered our fire, blazing a volley so simultaneous as to 

 sound like a single shot right into " the brown of them." 



As the rifles flashed, two warriors pitched headlong out 

 of the cluster to the ground. The remainder scattered like 

 the fragments of an exploding shell. Panic-struck, they all 

 rushed across the stream, and fled in every direction through 

 the cover. 



X., not wishing to give the flying foe a chance to recover 

 their presence of mind, to rally while his party remained in 

 the open, and so perceive its numerical weakness, and 

 anxious, moreover, to profit by the occasion, cried out, " Sail 

 in, boys." Suiting the action to the word, he sprung to the 

 ground, and without even looking back to see if he was 

 followed, pursued the fugitives across the water, firing his 

 magazine-gun as he ran. 



This example was quickly followed by the rest of the white 

 party, except one, who gathered together and held the five 

 horses ; and almost as quickly by the three chiefs, who, 

 making ready as they went, followed up close behind. A 

 shout drew X.'s attention to the three Apache- Yumayas, and 



