AY THE PAR \VEST. 145 



uway to the left on open ground. As the Indians wore at 

 that time supposed to be unfriendly, we did not know what 

 was best to d( at first, whether to dash through it uncon- 

 cernedly or turn about and beat a retreat; but after a halt 

 of about a minute we saw that the women and children dis- 

 appeared like magic in the tepees, and that there were no 

 men about except a few old bucks, who stared at us in as 

 much astonishment as Indians ever display, and knowing 

 then that the braves were out hunting or on the war-path, 

 we dashed through the village, revolver in hand, and fol- 

 lowed the quarry. In a run of a mile or two we came sud- 

 denly upon a large pack of mongrels of all sizes and shapes, 

 which were worrying our hounds, and jumping into their 

 midst we soon scattered them by a few vigorous kicks, 

 and sent them howling down the sides of a blul!'. The rescue 

 was evidently welcome to our dogs, for some of them were 

 bleeding at the ears, and all were thoroughly exhausted. 

 "We found the coyote dead a few yards further on, and, judging 

 from his numerous wounds, we came to the conclusion that 

 he had run into the Indian curs, and was killed by them 

 before our dogs could overtake him. As we were rather 

 suspicious of the friendliness of the red men, owing to the 

 strange actions of the squaws and children, we collected the 

 hounds together and hastened homewards as fast as our 

 weary horses could carry us. Instead of retreating through 

 the camp, however, which was the nearest route, we crossed a 

 high, wooded hill, and on emerging on the other side, where 

 we commanded an extensive view of the plain, were perfectly 

 thunderstruck to see smoke and flames issuing from the scattered 

 cabins, and to behold groups of horsemen dashing about in 

 various directions. A momentary glance enabled us to decide 

 what was the cause of these conflagrations, and when my com- 

 panion turned round to me and said, " I think, old boy, our 

 scalps will be lifted before we're many hours older/' I confess 

 I felt some qualms steal over me. 



As time was of the utmost importance just then, we did not 

 waste much of it in discussing what was best to be done, as 

 my companion had resolved on reaching home as rapidly as 



i. 



