336 A SUDDEN FEIGHT. 



siesta, and finding a very large fallen tree, which lay at a con- 

 venient angle, I lay down on it, and stood my rifle against the 

 tree close to me ; but it was not comfortable where I was, so I 

 moved to the other end of the log, about forty feet away, for- 

 getting to take my rifle with me, and soon fell asleep with 

 my blanket over me. I must have slept for some time, 

 when I was awoke by a noise, and, looking up, saw a row of 

 shining copper-coloured faces round me, some of them being 

 within two feet of mine. I do not think I was ever so startled 

 in my life ; but an instant's reflection showed me that I must 

 pretend to be cool, so I raised myself on one elbow and held 

 out my right hand, and all of them came forward and shook it, 

 Then I got up slowly and strolled towards my rifle, feeling 

 more comfortable when I had it in my hands. I feared that 

 they might be one of the hostile bands of Bannocks, who were 

 out under Peggee, but they turned out to be Crows from the 

 large camp, and some of them knew me, from having seen me 

 when there with Fishel, when looking for his stolen horses. 

 They had plenty of meat with them, and I had to sit down and 

 eat some of it, although I had already dined, or they would have 

 been offended ; so that it was nearly four o'clock in the after- 

 noon before I got off, and I camped that night on the prairie, 

 where there was a beautiful spring and good food for the pony. 

 The change had done him good, and, in spite of the weight he 

 had to carry, he was much fatter than when I started; the 

 grass was brown, but it is a peculiarity of Montana that the 

 hay cures without being cut, and will fatten a horse quickly 

 long after it has lost its colour. 



The next day I reached the other end of the Range, and 

 turned the corner towards our camp, having a rather curious 



