226 HALLIDAY'S COURAGE. 



occurred to us that we were a man short, Halliday having dis- 

 appeared. It seemed impossible that he could have been left 

 behind without our knowing it, and we were on the point of 

 trying to ride back to the spot where the rush had been made, 

 when the cook, who was standing at the back of the waggon, 

 beckoned to me, and on going up and looking into the waggon 

 I saw a pair of boots, with the soles towards me, standing upon 

 their toes an impossible position for boots which had not 

 feet in them; and the same thought occurring to each of us, 

 we suddenly caught hold of a foot each, and pulled Halliday 

 all covered with flour from under some sacks, bedding, &c., 

 jerking him over the tail-board of the waggon and letting 

 him fall on the ground. He at once shammed ill, calling us 

 inhuman wretches for treating a sick man in that way ; but 

 a look at him was enough to let us know what his illness was 

 the man was simply shaking with fear. It came out now 

 that he must have been there some time, no one having seen 

 him when the rush took place, and the other men said that he 

 had been of no use all through, giving out that he felt very 

 unwell. We made him work at the barricade, and it was 

 wonderful how soon his illness passed off. 



About six o'clock P.M. two companies of cavalry rode up, 

 the Indians still remaining within sight, as they knew that the 

 cavalry horses could not catch them ; for these large eastern 

 horses when sent west and living on grass and half rations 

 of corn, beside being constantly on scout duty, where they 

 hardly get any, soon fall away to nothing and can hardly 

 carry themselves. About two hours' travelling took us into 

 the Post, where we arrived nearly worn out, having been 

 fighting for three days, with very little food and less sleep. 



