LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 75 



camp. Starting at sunrise, they rode on at a rapid pace all 

 day, closely following the trail, which led directly to the 

 north-west, through a wretched sandy country, without 

 game or water. From the appearance of the track, the 

 Indians must still have been several hours ahead of them, 

 when the fatigue of their horses, suffering from want of 

 grass and water, compelled them to camp near the head 

 of a small water-course, where they luckily found a hole 

 containing a little water, and whence a broad Indian trail 

 passed, apparently frequently used. Long before daylight 

 they were again in the saddle, and, after proceeding a few 

 miles, saw the lights of several fires a short distance ahead 

 of them. Halting here, one of the party advanced on foot 

 to reconnoitre, and presently returned with the intelligence 

 that the party they were in pursuit of had joined a village 

 numbering thirty or forty huts. 



Loosening their girths, they permitted their tired animals 

 to feed on the scanty herbage which presented itself, whilst 

 they refreshed themselves with a pipe of tobacco for they 

 had no meat of any description with them, and the country 

 afforded no game. As the first streak of dawn appeared 

 in the east, they mounted their horses, after first examin- 

 ing their rifles, and moved cautiously towards the Indian 

 village. As it was scarcely light enough for their opera- 

 tions, they waited behind a sandhill in the vicinity until 

 objects became more distinct; and then, emerging from 

 their cover with loud war-whoops, they charged abreast 

 into the midst of the village. 



As the frightened Indians were scarcely risen from their 

 beds, no opposition was given to the daring mountaineers, 

 who, rushing upon the flying crowd, discharged their rifles 

 at close quarters, and then, springing from their horses, 

 attacked them knife in hand, and only ceased the work of 

 butchery when nine Indians lay dead upon the ground. 

 All this time the women, half dead with fright, were hud- 

 dled together on the ground, howling piteously ; and the 

 mountaineers, advancing to them, whirled their lassos round 

 their heads, and, throwing the open nooses into the midst, 

 hauled out three of them, and securing their arms in the 



