10 INDIAN PROWLERS. 



ledged with an expression of gratitude, I returned to 

 my blanket, and although fitful angry gusts of wind 

 rushed madly across the mountain's sides, screaming 

 as they struck the sharp edges of the rocks and brush, 

 and producing many a weird note, as if old Boreas 

 was giving vent to his wrath for such interruptions 

 in his headlong course ; I was soon dead to all con- 

 sciousness of the outer world ; and when I awoke 

 next day the sun was already above the horizon, the 

 horse and mule were gone to seek their breakfast, 

 and my fire of the previous evening no longer ex- 

 isted, leaving only its tell-tale mark to remind me 

 of the services which it had rendered me. 



Previous to the date on which I commence my 

 narrative, I was settled in a valley some distance to 

 the southward of my present position, and my intention 

 had been to remain there for possibly a month more ; 

 but this decision was altered from my accidentally 

 discovering that Indians had found out my fastness, 

 and had already prowled around it, disguising in 

 every possible manner the evidences of their vicinity, 

 Now, if these Red-skins had not been possessed of 

 evil intentions towards me, knowing as they did that 

 I was alone and comparatively defenceless, they 

 would have come and made a friendly call ; we would 

 have had a grave smoke together, and afterwards a 

 grand pow-wow, consisting of big words and bigger 

 speeches ; utterly incomprehensible in detail, but 

 strongly significant when taken all together. 



Thus arguing the matter over, I determined to 



