366 ON THE FEONTIEE. 



serves to kill and wound some of the animals. Then two 

 bodies of mounted Apaches dart out from cover, on opposite 

 sides of the valley, close up behind the herd, and they are 

 lost captured by strategy, courage, and dash, without the 

 loss of a man ! 



Messengers were instantly despatched to the fort, to 

 report the disaster. A dangerous task, as it was likely, in 

 anticipation of such a step, a small party of Indians might 

 have been left behind to watch the ranch o, and cut off its 

 communications ; but men in that country were accustomed 

 to brave danger, and they started without hesitation, taking 

 different directions, and not to run into any already-formed 

 ambush avoiding all trails and dangerous places, and 

 making their way by circuitous and zigzag courses, arrived 

 in safety. But it was ten o'clock ere the first got to the 

 district head-quarters. By noon a detachment of cavalry 

 was in pursuit, in very light marching order. Every man 

 carried his entire shelter and subsistence on his horse. One 

 double blanket, ten days' rations of army biscuit, of bacon, 

 coffee, and sugar ; and for camp equipage, one tin cup, one 

 tin plate, a sheath knife, and a water canteen per trooper ; 

 and every tenth man, one small fryingpan. 



The orders were to follow the lost stock with all speed ; 

 stay out, if necessary, while rations could be made to last; 

 recapture what it was possible, and inflict some punishment 

 on the depredators. The expedition was well mounted on 

 Californian horses the very best for such service led by 

 an old member of the Indian scout and guide corps, who 

 knew the country well. But the Indians had too great a 

 start for success to be possible except through some lucky 



