124 ^^^ ADVENTURES OF 



I told the boys to get ready and get to the top 

 of the hill as fast as they could, as the Indians 

 meant to surround us, and we must get to the 

 top to intercept them. I sprang on the sad- 

 dle horse and left them to come up with the 

 wagon, and dashed to the top of the hill, 

 where I could see the whole game of the 

 Indians. They were coming around the hill 

 stationing one of their number about every 

 hundred yards, and would have been all 

 around us in a few moments. I sprang from 

 my horse and crawled up where I could see 

 over the crest of the hill and could have picked 

 one off every shot. But they saw me and 

 knew that they were beaten, and whirled sud- 

 denly around, and, lying flat on their horses, 

 beat a hasty retreat, and did not stop until 

 entirely out of sight. We did not leave that 

 night, but picketed our horses and remained 

 until morning, for I knew that they would not 

 attack us any mo.re that night, though the 

 boys thought sure that we would get our hair 

 lifted before daylight. The boys were afraid 

 to go in by themselves in the morning and I 



