THE PRAIRIE WOLF. 175 



by them before our dogs could overtake him. As we 

 rather suspicious of the friendliness of the red men, owing 

 to the strange actions of the squaws and children, we col- 

 lected the hounds together and hastened homeward as fast 

 as our weary horses could carry us. Instead of retreating 

 through the camp, however, which was the nearest route, 

 we crossed a high, wooded hill, and on emerging on the 

 other side, where we commanded an extensive view of the 

 plain, were perfectly thunderstruck to see smoke and flames 

 issuing from the scattered cabins, and to behold groups 

 of horsemen dashing about in various directions. A mo- 

 mentary glance enabled us to decide what was the cause 

 of these conflagrations; and when my companion turned 

 round to me and said, "I think, old boy, our scalps will be 

 lifted before we're many hours older," I confess I felt some 

 qualms steal over me. 



As time was of the utmost importance just then, we did 

 not waste much of it in discussing what was best to be 

 done, as my companion had resolved on reaching home as 

 rapidly as possible, to try and save his family from the 

 tomahawk of the red foes. He was very much afraid that 

 they might have been there before him, and this made him 

 almost wild with excitement and feelings of revenge; but 

 on rounding a long, sharp spur of the hill, which gave us a 

 good view of the vale in which his cottage was situated, 

 he was delighted to see everything in its usual tranquil 

 condition. Cheered by this welcome sight, we hastened 

 onward as rapidly as possible, and in the course of half an 

 hour reached the house. Leaping off the half-dead horses 

 the moment we reached the door, he rushed in, still doubt- 

 ful of the fate of his family ; but on finding his wife at- 

 tending to her business as usual, and the young child ivn 

 playing on the floor, he became as stoical as an Indian 

 brave; and after kissing them all in the ordinary way, lu> 

 asked his wife if she had seen any Indians about during 

 his absence. She replied that she had not, except Joe, tho 

 half-breed, and he was hastening as fast as his horse could 

 carry him to the mining hamlet ten miles away. In re- 



