408 BUFFALO LAND. 



"Tliat man knows his biz!" exclaimed our c-iiide 

 as he m'ged the teams forward, that we might afford 

 rescue. " Injuns never bump up agin a loaded gun." 



A gleam of calico was visible in the wagon, and 

 another rifle barrel, held by female hands, seemed 

 peering out in front. The general aspect of the as- 

 sailed outfit reminded us strongly of the Sydney 

 family, and suspicion was strengthened by a very un- 

 scientific 3^ell from the Professor, as he stcirted off at 

 break-neck speed down the bluff for a rescue, with no 

 other weapon whatever in his hand than a small 

 hammer he had just been using for breaking stones. 

 Mr. Colon seemed equally demented, following close 

 upon Paleozoic's heels with a bug-net. Shamus, at 

 the moment, happened to be astride his donkey, and 

 giving an Irish war-whoop which reached even to the 

 scene of combat, straightway charged over the lime- 

 stone ledges in a cloud of white dust. Our appear- 

 ance upon the scene was a surprise to Lo. The 

 Indians stood not upon the order of their going, but 

 "lit out on the double-quick," as our guide expressed 

 it, and were soon out of sight. 



We found that the emigrants Were named Burns, 

 the family comprising the parents and their two chil- 

 dren. The man stated that he had no fear of the 

 savages. He had been twice across the plains, and 

 made it a rule never to throw a shot away. " If they 

 can draw your fire," said he, "the fellows will charge. 

 But they do n't want to look into a loaded gun." 

 Mrs. Burns had come to her husband's rescue with 

 an expedient worthy the wife of a frontiersman. 

 Having no gun, she pointed from under the canvass 



