A NEW USE FOR THE SKILLET. 277 



into camp a few hundred yards up the creek, a barely 

 perceptible light, looking from our tents like a fire-fly, 

 marking the spot. 



When a " cold camp " is discovered on the plains, 

 the experienced frontiersman can always determine 

 at once whether white men or Indians made it, by 

 the size of the ash-heap. The former, even when try- 

 ing to make their fire a small one, will consume in 

 one evening as much fuel as would last the red man 

 a half-moon. The latter, putting together two or 

 three buffalo chips, or as many twigs, will huddle 

 over them when ignited, and extract warmth and 

 heat enough for cooking from a flame that could 

 scarcely be seen twenty yards. 



The two opposing parties, which were now resting 

 only a mile or so apart, had each tested the other's 

 metal, and, as the sequel proved, found them foemen 

 worthy of their steal. From the unconcealed fires in 

 their respective camps, we concluded that neither 

 side had any intention of attacking, or fear of being 

 attacked. 



It was early in the dawn of the next morning when 

 we were startled from our slumbers by a terrific cry 

 from Shamus, which brought all of us to our tent- 

 doors, with rifles in hand ready to do battle, in the 

 shortest possible time. Looking out, we beheld our 

 cook standing near the first preparations of break- 

 fast, and gazing with astonished eyes toward the 

 darkness under the trees, among which we heard, or 

 at least imagined we heard, the stealthy steps of moc- 

 casinecl feet. In answer to our interrogatories, Sha- 

 mus stated that just as he was putting the meat in 



