THE BIG-HORN, OR MOUNTAIN SHEEP. 417 



them. Being always prepared for warfare, those daring 

 fellows were soon armed, and assembled at a common ren- 

 dezvous under the command of our guide. They advanced 

 against their foes the next morning, and, meeting them at 

 the base of the mountain, dispersed them after a few vol- 

 leys, which placed one-sixth of their number hors de com- 

 bat, while they escaped scathless themselves. This sum- 

 mary defeat kept the treacherous red men away front that 

 region ever after. 



Thanking the raconteur for his story, we retired to our 

 pallet of hay, and early the next morning returned to the 

 mining hamlet, where we were received with many congrat- 

 ulations on our good-fortune. I have had some adventures 

 among the big-horns since then in nearly all sections of the 

 North-west, but none which equalled in pleasurable excite- 

 ment my introduction to them among the rugged pinnacles 

 of the War Eagle Mountains. 



