THM BIG -HORN, OR MOUNTAIN SHEER 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 scathlcss themselves. This sum- 

 mary defeat kept the treacherous red men away from 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. 



