128 THE AnVKNTURES OE 



The most suitable spot for a light that I 

 could see was an elevated place about a quar- 

 ter of a mile to my left. Here I posted my- 

 self and commenced filling my empty car- 

 tridges. The Indians were fast getting nearer 

 and it seemed to me that I never made as 

 slow progress in filling cartridges before, and 

 yet I v^as working as lor dear life. However, 

 there were onl)^ six of the red skins, and I 

 knew that with anything like a fair show I 

 could take care of myself. When they were 

 about two hundred yards olf, I rose to my feet 

 and waved my frying pan toward them, and 

 no sooner did they see it than they raised the 

 yell and dashed toward me. I motioned to 

 them to stop, but they paid no heed and came 

 dashing on. I dropped on one knee and 

 resting my elbow on the other levelled my 

 gun at the foremost. At this they whirled 

 with their horses sideways to me and turned 

 their saddles on the farther side and kept 

 themselves where I could not see them at all. 

 As they hung on the farther side of their 

 horses they would occasionally peep over their 



