CHAPTER XXIV 



CAPTAIN SAUNDERS' FIGHT 



/"^LANCING around as Bill galloped away, I 

 ^-' plainly saw, in the bushes at the edge of the 

 timber back of our burnt haystack, two Indian 

 ponies tied to some bushes, with saddles and 

 bridles on. They were the mounts of the two 

 Kiowas who had entertained me throughout the 

 night and one of whom Bill had just killed. 



The other fellow, who set fire to the haystack, 

 I supposed had made good his escape. 



And, as I thought this, I naturally turned to 

 look at the spot from where he had fired the burn- 

 ing arrow. 



"Fm sure I hit him when I shot at him out of 

 the tent," I said to myself. "I wonder if I hurt 

 him much? Fll just step down there and see if 

 there is any blood on the ground." 



As I approached the spot I saw something like 

 the end of a dirty blanket showing from behind the 

 jutting bank where he had been concealed, and, 

 fearing that the Indian, wounded, might be lying 

 there waiting to shoot me, I cocked my rifle and 

 crept cautiously around to where I could see be- 

 hind the projecting bank; and there lay the Indian, 



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