484 OCEAN TO OCEAN ON HORSEBACK. 



but who was at this time some distance from the camp- 

 fire, now rushed to my rescue and dispersed our in- 

 human captors, who were loath to desist from their 

 devilish work. A few minutes later a brother of the 

 Indian killed at Skull Rocks removed the scalp of the 

 Mexican, and, after he had fastened it to his belt, all 

 began dancing around the fire, singing and shouting 

 until they were thoroughly exhausted, when they 

 squatted upon the ground, apparently regretting that 

 they had not been permitted to put more trophies in 

 their scalp locks. 



An object of interest to us at this time was the 

 horses which were tethered by long lariat ropes to 

 stakes which had been driven in the ground at a con- 

 venient distance from the encam})ment. Could we but 

 elude the' guard and mount the mustangs we were 

 riding when captured, our chances for escape would be 

 all we could wish. As usual, we were bound together, 

 with two stalwart Indians in charge. The other 

 Indians disposed themselves around the fire and slept. 

 I and my companion slept very little, but pretended 

 to do so. We were always on the alert and seeking 

 opportunities to escape. About two o'clock in the 

 morning our guards were relieved by two others, and 

 all was again quiet around their camp-fire. At the 

 first streak of dawn, the Indians were up and had a 

 scant breakfast of dried buffalo meat and venison, 

 which had been secured from the ranches of frontiers- 

 men during their raid of the previous day; of this 

 they gave us barely enough to satisfy hunger. 



As soon as all were ready for the trail, Gordon and 

 I were each given a pony, which we mounted under 

 the close scrutiny of the guard, and the entire party 



