CHARLES L. YOUNGBLOOD. I 23 



seemed amazed at seeing us. They halted 

 and gathered in a close groop, and seemed to 

 be holding a consultation. I signalled to learn 

 what tribe they belonged to, but they paid 

 no attention to me. I then signalled to knov 

 if they were friendly and what they wanted, 

 but received no reply. I then went back to 

 the wagon and told the boys that they meant 

 no good, and ordered the ammunition placed 

 where it would be most convenient. By the 

 time we had things in readiness, the Indians 

 had formed and were ready to make a dash 

 on us. As soon as they started I lay dov, n 

 and levelled my gun to drop the foremost, but 

 he saw my intention, and, whirling his horse 

 about, dashed back. The next followed him, 

 and the next in like manner, until the whole 

 band were out of range, when they again 

 stopped and held another council. I stood up 

 on the wagon to watch them, and saw that 

 they were preparing to surround us. The hill 

 was in the shape of a half circle, and their plan 

 was to go around the back of it, where we 

 could not see them until they got around. So 



