CAPTURED BY INDIANS. 489 



These animals were grazing near th? camp-fire, with 

 their saddles on, ready for immediate use if required. 

 Under the pretence of being asleep we began snoring 

 loudly, and the guards, feelinoj at ease concerning their 

 prisoners, slept at intervals, although restless until 

 midnight, when we found them sleeping soundly. 



I now worked at the cord which bound me to my 

 white companion and ascertained that I could untie it. 

 AVhile making the attempt one of the Indians moved 

 in his sleep and I ceased my efforts for the moment, 

 and all was quiet again. The opportunity arrived at 

 length, the knot was loosened, and the noose slipped 

 over our hands, which gave us liberty. We quickly 

 took possession of two revolvers, but the guards, being 

 awakened by our movements, were about getting on 

 their ^e^i, when we dealt them stunning blows with 

 the butt of the revolvers, forced them to the ground, 

 and gained needed time for our escape. Each rushed 

 for a pony, leaped into the saddle, and, before Lone 

 Wolf and his band had shaken off their slumber, we 

 were urging our mustangs to their utmost speed south- 

 ward. 



But a moment elapsed before all of the Indians 

 were mounted and in pursuit of their escaping cap- 

 tives; but this had the effect only of spurring us to 

 still greater speed. Finding several. of our pursuers 

 in short range I turned in my saddle and sent a 

 bullet among them ; another and another followed. 

 One Indian fell from his horse, but the darkness pre- 

 vented our seeing if the other shots had told. The 

 Arrapahoes returned the fire, but luckily without any 

 worse result than increasing the pace of our flying 

 ponies. 



