480 OCEAN TO OCEAN ON HORSEBACK. 



But Few moments were required to settle the un- 

 equal contest. Four of our horses fell in rapid suc- 

 cession, including my own mustang; in the meantime 

 we brought down one Indian and three ponies. The 

 Indian was instantly killed by a shot from the Mexican. 



On seeing one of their number fall, the Arrapahoes 

 rushed upon us with deafening yells, and with such 

 force as to render resistance useless. Our arms were 

 taken from us, our horses quickly seized, and, in much 

 less time than it takes to tell it, we were mounted 

 and riding at a rapid pace to the northward, under a 

 guard of six well-armed Indians, who were carefully 

 instructed as to their duties by their chief. Lone Wolf 

 The remainder of the band were more or less occupied 

 in scouring the country for horses and other plunder, 

 wanted for t/jeir encampment in the Black Hills. 



We rode at a trot or gallop until about ten o'clock 

 at night, when a halt was ordered by the chief, and 

 all dismounted ; a fire was built and some antelope 

 meat, secured during the day, was partially roasted 

 and distributed among the Indians and their captives. 

 We were for some time squatted around a big fire — our 

 captors engaged in earnest conversation. Gordon 

 understood enough of their language to interpret that 

 the discussion related to their prisoners — that the 

 friends of the Indian killed at Skull Rocks, and who 

 were in the majority, were in favor of putting all of 

 their prisoners to death for having shot one of their 

 number. Lone Wolf, however, interposed, saying it 

 would be enough to take the life of him who had 

 killed their brother. Supper over, four Arrapahoes 

 approached us and seized the herder who had fired the 

 fatal shot. They led him to a stake which had been 



