154 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



and the degenerate Diggers pursue a cowardly warfare, hiding in 

 ambush, and shooting the passer-by with arrows ; or dashing upon 

 him at night when steeped in sleep, they bury their arrow to the 

 feather in his heaving breast. As the Mexicans say, " Sm ven- 

 taja, no s,alenf' they never attack without odds. But they are 

 not the less dangerous enemies on this account ; and by the small 

 bands of trappers who visit their country, they are the more dreaded 

 by reason of this cowardly and wolfish system of warfare. 



To provide against surprise, therefore, as the hunters rode along, 

 flankers were extended en gicerilla on each side, mounting the 

 high points to reconnoiter the country, and keeping a sharp look- 

 out for Indian sign. At night the animals were securely hobbled, 

 and a horse-guard posted round them — a service of great danger, 

 as the stealthy, cat-like Diggers are often known to steal up 

 silently, under cover of the darkness, toward the sentinel, shoot 

 him with their arrows, and approaching the animals, cut the hob- 

 bles and drive them away unseen. 



One night they encamped on a creek where was but little of 

 the coarsest pasture, and that little scattered here and there ; so 

 that they were compelled to allow their animals to roam farther 

 than usual from camp in search of food. Four of the hunters, 

 however, accompanied them to guard against surprise ; while but 

 half of those in camp lay down to sleep, the others, with rifles in 

 their hands, remained prepared for any emergency. This day 

 they had killed one of their two pack-mules for food, game not 

 having been met with for several days ; but the animal was so 

 poor, that it scarcely afforded more than one tolerable meal to the 

 whole party. 



A short time before the dawn of day, an alarm was given ; the 

 animals were heard to snort violently ; a loud shout was heard, 

 followed by the sharp crack of a rifle, and the tramp of galloping 

 horses, plainly showed that a stampede had been effected. The 

 whites instantly sprang to their arms, and mshed in the direction 



