OUR PLAN OF TRAVELLING. 95 



a hundred yards away. Here we seriously discussed the 

 possibility of making some kind of a shelter with trunks of 

 trees, and keeping the Indians off, in the hopes that some 

 friendly Indians might come up and drive them away; but the 

 state of my arm finally decided us to give up the idea, as it was 

 very much swollen and looked as if it might mortify. I kept 

 cold water on it continually, and as we passed ponds at 

 frequent intervals, I could keep the bandages cool. 



Our plan of travelling was to halt soon after sunset, when 

 Badger rubbed down the horses and staked them out, watering 

 them when cool ; we then slept, or tried to do so, for about 

 three or four hours, when we mounted and rode at a canter till 

 nearly daylight. The horses had then two hours more rest and 

 were rubbed down again, working the sinews of the legs well 

 with the hands, after which we mounted and rode all day, 

 getting off now and then for a few minutes. By these means, 

 we had gained a good many miles on the Indians, who some- 

 times did not come in sight till nearly twelve o'clock, when the 

 fast riding began. 



Badger behaved splendidly during the ride, and was very 

 hopeful of our escaping. The horses were getting very thin, 

 and we had to throw away nearly all our pack, including a 

 rifle and a lot of ammunition, breaking the former so that it 

 might be of no use to our pursuers. On the morning of the 

 fourth day, our ride having lasted three days and three nights, 

 we came to the first house, which was inhabited by a man with 

 his wife and one child. When they heard that the Sioux were 

 only a few miles behind us, they got in two horses, and leaving 

 everything, joined us. 



We saw the Indians once during the morning from a high 



