THE ELK, OR WAPITI. 285 



most anxious to race with any one of them. When the 

 position of affairs was explained to the men, they were all 

 animation at once; and though the news was exceedingly 

 disagreeable, not one showed the least sign of fear. All 

 displayed in their features the seriousness of the coming 

 contest; but though their faces might have been a little 

 blanched, yet there was an expression of a thorough deter- 

 mination to fight to death if necessary. 



Some and myself among them put a revolver into 

 their boot-legs, intending to kill themselves with it if they 

 were captured, or so seriously wounded as to be unable to 

 keep with the remainder of the party. After a brief con- 

 sultation, our plan of operations was decided upon. This 

 was, that it would be worse than madness to retreat to 

 camp ; and, having no other recourse left, we concluded to 

 make for the only passage in the mountains in front, and 

 resort to every stratagem we could think of to lead the 

 foe away from that. All were to obey the leader's motions, 

 or take the consequence ; and no person was to leave a 

 wounded comrade until it was evident that he could not 

 escape the red demons, and he was then to be shot in case 

 he could not do it himself. That matter being understood, 

 all mounted fresh horses ; and deploying into a long line, 

 so as to prevent the effect of a fusillade, we moved forward 

 as if we were going on a grand drive. The Indians in the 

 coppice in front, on seeing us advancing, sallied out prompt- 

 ly to meet us, and we, feigning to be surprised, faced about 

 at the command of our leader and retreated in the direc- 

 tion whence we came. They dashed after us at once ; and 

 when they got within rifle range we let them have a volley, 

 which tumbled over some men and horses. Our fire was 

 answered by a fierce yell of defiance and a fusillade that 

 looked dangerous enough, but all the bullets fell short. 

 After a halt of five minutes, we galloped in an oblique di- 

 rection to the right, in order to lead them away from the 

 route we intended to take ; and this ruse was successful ; 

 for, instead of closing on us, the larger number rode as 

 rapidly as they could to head us off from camp, while the 



