386 INDIANS. 



In 1871 I was changing stations from Fort Lyon to 

 Fort Larned on the Arkansas, taking, of course, my 

 servants and household property. I had several waggons 

 and an ample infantry escort. About thirty miles west 

 of Fort Dodge the waggon road crosses a portion of the 

 high prairie called the ' nine mile ridge.' This high 

 land is cut by several broad depressions, and towards 

 the river broken by numberless little ravines very 

 favourable ground for antelope hunting and into these 

 I, with my coloured man servant, was soon poking after 

 game. It was a raw, foggy morning, and I had been 

 hunting probably for two hours, when the fog lifted 

 slightly, discovering two men on horseback about 200 

 yards oflf, whom, as they had on overcoats, I took to be 

 soldiers from Fort Dodge. As soon as they saw me, 

 however, one of them rode the signal ' danger,' * collect 

 together,' and I began to think of my escort. Looking 

 round I was greatly annoyed to find the spring waggon, 

 in which was my coloured cook, about 600 yards from 

 me, opposite the Indians, while the waggons and escort 

 could not be seen. Making the best of the situation I 

 galloped back to the spring waggon, had it driven well out 

 into the plain, and the mules unhitched and well secured. 

 The driver got out his rifle, and everything was satisfac- 

 tory except the presence of the cook. I not only feared 

 she might be hit, but I knew the Indians would be more 

 dangerous if a woman were likely to be a prize. Making 

 her lie down in the bottom of the waggon, I packed 

 around her lunch and other boxes, blankets, cushions, 

 seats, everything that might stop a bullet, and gave her 

 positive orders to remain perfectly quiet and concealed, 

 no matter what took place. I then took position with 

 my two men some paces on one side of the waggon, to 

 spare it from shots. During all this time the Indians had 

 been collecting, and, soon after I was ready, a line of 

 about thirty moved slowly towards me. At about 800 

 yards they broke into a sharp canter. Expecting the 



