FIGHTING. 383 



live or die on one spot. Many a life has been saved by 

 this simple proceeding, which would otherwise have been 

 sacrificed. Sometimes the defenders get into a buffalo 

 wallow. This is excellent ; the ground is much broken 

 by these depressions, in which case they can also be used 

 in the attack. If time be given the earth should be dug 

 up with knives, and a rifle pit be made. Even a very 

 slight one is of immense advantage. I know of one suc- 

 cessful defence against repeated and desperate charges of 

 an overwhelming force, where the breastwork was the 

 bodies of three live horses, thrown to the ground in a 

 sort of triangle, and their legs firmly tied. 



A frontier desperado, having committed a cold-blooded 

 murder at Hays City, was pursued by a party of whites 

 and nearly overtaken. Stopping on a level prairie, he 

 dismounted, drew his pistol, shot his horse dead, and, 

 taking position under cover of the body, he killed and 

 wounded three or four of his assailants, defended himself 

 successfully until nightfall, and then escaped. 



In 1867 I was with a party of officers elk hunting on 

 the Loup Eiver. We had an escort of twelve or fifteen 

 infantry soldiers, and six Pawnee Indians. We established 

 our camp in a fine position, and each officer, taking one 

 or more Indians, went hunting as it suited him. One day 

 I was out with one Pawnee, and, not finding game, had 

 ridden some twelve or fifteen miles from camp, when 

 we were discovered by a band of between forty and 

 fifty hostile Sioux, who immediately set upon us. 



About four miles back I had noticed a splendid defen- 

 sive position, one of the very best I have ever seen. 

 Putting our horses at half speed we plunged into the 

 barrancas of the 4 bad lands,' and in half an hour emerged 

 on the spot sought for. Here we dismounted and made 

 our preparations for fight. The Pawnee positively refused 

 to fight on foot, and when I was ready I found him ready 

 also ; not a rag of clothing on his body, and nothing but 

 a bridle on his horse. From some receptacle he had 



