INDIAN STRATAGEM. 137 



cendcd by these means was clear from the marks of his 

 claws in the wood. 



" It would not have done for the dog ; besides the 

 discovery was too important for delay, and I hastened 

 home to give information. We had not long to wait to 

 turn it to account. The Indians, who had stolen a couple 

 of horses a few nights before, returned for some more 

 the same evening. Luckily, our watchmen gave the 

 alarm in time, and they had hardly made off with their 

 booty, when we started by a nearer road, as they were 

 obliged to choose the most stony paths, in order to 

 leave as few traces as possible, and thus made a long 

 circuit. 



" About nine in the morning we arrived -opposite the 

 fir-trees, and hid ourselves in the trees and behind rocks 

 to await the redskins. About noon we began to think 

 that they must have discovered our trail, and would not 

 appear ; but w r e resolved to wait till dark. We were 

 fifteen in all, and decided not to fire till every man was 

 sure of his mark ; and, with beating hearts, we listened 

 for the slightest sounds. We had almost given up the 

 hopes of seeing them, when a single warrior appeared, in 

 blanket dress, and descended the cliff. He was sent to 

 reconnoitre, and had not the slightest suspicion of danger ; 

 for he passed close before my uncle Ben, who, not able to 

 resist the temptation, or fancying that he was discovered, 

 I know not which, contrary to his usual caution, fired. 

 The savage leaped high in the air, and fell on his face 

 without a groan. 



"Now, whether the Indians thought that their spy had 

 shot something, or whether they thought themselves 



