IN THE OLD WEST 335 



informed him that, unless the demands of his 

 braves were acceded to, he could not be respon- 

 sible for the consequences ; that they were out on 

 the war-trail, and their eyes were red with blood, 

 so that they could not distinguish between white 

 and Yuta scalps ; that the party, with all their 

 women and wagons, were in the power of the In- 

 dian braves, and therefore the white chief's best 

 plan was to make the best terms he could ; that all 

 they required was that they should give up their 

 guns and ammunition " on the prairie," and all 

 their mules and horses — retaining the " medicine 

 buffaloes " (the oxen) " to draw their wagons." 



By this time the oxen were yoked, and the team- 

 sters, whip in hand, only waited the word to start. 

 Old Brand foamed whilst the Indian stated his de- 

 mands, but, hearing him to the end, exclaimed, 

 " Darn the red devil ! I wouldn't give him a grain 

 of powder to save my life. Put out, boys ! " — 

 and turning to his horse, which stood ready sad- 

 dled, was about to mount, when the Indians sprang 

 at once upon the wagons, and commenced their 

 attack, yelling like fiends. 



One jumped upon old Brand, pulled him back 

 as he was rising in the stirrup, and drew his bow 

 upon him at the same moment. In an instant the 

 old backwoodsman pulled a pistol from his belt, 

 and, putting the muzzle to the Indian's heart, shot 

 him dead. Another Indian, flourishing his war- 

 club, laid the old man at his feet; whilst some 



