IN THE FAR WEST. 13 



long 1 , and be attached to an iron ring in a stout leathern head- 

 stall, and to a swivel ring- in an iron pin which is driven almost 

 to the head in the ground, and so firmly planted that a horse 

 in its wildest terror could not withdraw it. 



A strict watch should always be kept over the animals, for 

 there are thieves, both white and red, in some portions of the 

 region, who would not hesitate a moment to steal them if it 

 could be done without actually risking their lives. This state- 

 ment is true to only a limited extent, for there are other parts 

 of the country where they might be left for years and no person 

 would probably molest them. Vigilance is, however, a virtue 

 which will be well repaid there, and it should be exercised to 

 the fullest extent. If encamped anywhere in the vicinity of 

 an Indian settlement, a guard should be mounted at night and 

 kept up until daylight. The reliefs might be changed every 

 two hours, and this short time, even if there is no danger, could 

 be employed to good advantage in keeping the fire burning 

 brightly, or in preventing the intrusion of thieving quadrupeds. 

 Sentinels wishing to note the approach of objects can do it best 

 by lying on the ground, face downward, and looking towards 

 the horizon ; and by applying the ear to the ground the 

 advance of bodies can be heard when some distance away, and 

 after a little experience their character and route may be 

 pretty accurately surmised. 



A guard should never stand up in sight of the camp when 

 on duty at night, as he is more likely to be seen by foes than 

 he is to see them ; and he ought, if possible, to be placed on 

 some crest overlooking as large a tract of country as it is con- 

 venient to survey, or take up his position in a tree. lie should 

 be under shelter where it is available, and he ought never 

 expose his full outline in any case. In a region where Indians 

 are very active or threatening, the guards should be increased, 

 the animals picketed in camp or tied up every night, the wag- 

 gons placed in such a manner that they could be used for cover 

 in case of attack, and the camp so situated that it could be 

 assaulted only at a serious disadvantage to the assailants. It 

 should be protected as much as possible by crags, bluffs or 

 woods, for though it may be safe from the red men, it is often 



