IN THE OLD WEST 141 



appeared in the east, they mounted their horses, 

 after first examining their rifles, and moved cau- 

 tiously towards the Indian village. As it was 

 scarcely light enough for their operations, they 

 waited behind a sandhill in the vicinity until ob- 

 jects became more distinct; and then, emerging 

 from their cover with loud war-whoops, they 

 charged abreast into the midst of the village. 



As the frightened Indians were scarcely risen- 

 from their beds, no opposition was given to the 

 daring mountaineers, who, rushing upon the fly- 

 ing crowd, discharged their rifles at close quar- 

 ters, and then, springing from their horses, at- 

 tacked them knife in hand, and only ceased the 

 work of butchery when nine Indians lay dead 

 upon the ground. All this time the women, half 

 dead with fright, were huddled together on the 

 ground, howling piteously ; and the mountaineers, 

 advancing to them, whirled their lassos round 

 their heads, and, throwing the open nooses into 

 the midst, hauled out three of them, and securing 

 their arms in the rope, bound them to a tree, 

 and then proceeded to scalp the dead bodies. 

 Whilst they were engaged in this work, an old 

 Indian, withered and grisly, and hardly bigger 

 than an ape, suddenly emerged from a rock, hold- 

 ing in his left hand a bow and a handful of arrows, 

 whilst one was already drawn to the head. Run- 

 ning towards them, and almost before the hunters 

 were aware of his presence, he discharged an 



