228 IN THE OLD WEST 



of Mexico, and who have left such startling evi- 

 dences in their track of a comparatively superior 

 state of civilization. They now form an outcast 

 tribe of the great nation of the Apache, which ex- 

 tends under various names from the Great Salt 

 Lake along the table-lands on each side of the 

 Sierra Madre to the tropic of Cancer, where they 

 merge into what are called the Mexican Indians. 

 The whole of this nation is characterized by most 

 abject cowardice; and they even refuse to meet 

 the helpless Mexicans in open fight — unlike the 

 Yuta or Comanche, who carry bold and open war- 

 fare into the territories of their civilized enemy, 

 and never shrink from hand-to-hand encounter. 

 The Apaches and the degenerate Diggers pui'sue 

 a cowardly warfare, hiding in ambush, and shoot- 

 ing the passer-by with arrows; or, dashing upon 

 him at night when steeped in sleep, they bury 

 their arrow to the feather in his heaving breast. 

 As the Mexicans say, " Sm ventaja, no salen; " 

 they never attack without odds. But they are 

 not the less dangerous enemies on this account; 

 and by the small bands of trappers who visit their 

 country they are the more dreaded by reason of 

 this cowardly and wolfish system of warfare. 



To provide against surprise, therefore, as the 

 hunters rode along, flankers were extended en 

 guerilla on each side, mounting the high points 

 to reconnoiter the country, and keeping a sharp 

 look-out for Indian sign. At night the animals 



