224 Life of a Fossil Hunter 



too. I spread half my saddle blanket under me, and 

 with my saddle for a pillow was just dozing off 

 when I heard a rustle in the dead grass, and the thin 

 Indian, whom I disliked, stuck his head almost into 

 my face. He had something in his hands which he 

 wanted to swap with me for some of my property, 

 and the more I argued, the more determined he was 

 to trade. He wanted my pony, my Winchester, 

 everything I had, and I was afraid that he would 

 take them whether or no. At last, however, he left, 

 crawling through the grass as he had come; but I 

 was just dropping off to sleep, when I heard the 

 snake-like rustle again. I was getting mad by that 

 time, and when the Indian parted the tall grass and 

 peered through the opening, he faced the muzzle of 

 my gun, while I told him with much vehemence that 

 if he did not go about his business and let me get to 

 sleep, I would bore a hole through him. This had 

 the desired effect, and but for the cold, which 

 wakened me often, I slept in peace the rest of the 

 night. 



I was wakened in the morning by a shot, and a 

 wild turkey fell from a tree near where I had been 

 sleeping. They were so tame and abundant that 

 they roosted in camp. The jolly Indian was anxious 

 to earn another quarter, and as I had ordered turkey 

 for supper, he had concluded that I wanted one for 

 breakfast. I was not quite so hungry this morning, 



