238 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



horses, as the animal 1 rode was quite done up, and covered 

 with foam. While returning 1 , I noticed that the elks and 

 antelopes which we had driven towards the mountains were 

 scurrying- back, as if they were being 1 pursued, and this caused 

 me to halt and closely scan the landscape. I, fortunately, 

 carried my field-glass slung over my shoulder, and taking it 

 out I made a survey of all that portion of the valley which 

 the animals \vere leaving. After a careful scrutiny I could 

 see a column of mounted men moving along the edge of a 

 heavy copse, and when it passed the wood, it seemed to open 

 out like a telescope, and dark dots could be seen moving 

 rapidly to the right and left and suddenly disappearing, as if 

 the ground had swallowed them. "Indians, by Jove!" 

 thought I ; so I hastened at once to find our veteran com- 

 mander to see what could be done to escape the serious danger 

 that threatened us. After going at full gallop for about a 

 mile, I was startled by hearing my name called out of a tree, 

 and on looking up saw the leader perched on the branches 

 of a fir, and his horse tied to its base. Reining up abruptly, 

 I was going to tell him what I had seen, but he anticipated 

 me by coolly remarking, " Seen 'em, didn't you ? I knowed 

 it as soon as I saw you stopping but I saw 'cm long afore 

 you did. That aire machine o' yourn isn't as good as my 

 eyes after all. I reckon I can tell an Injun as far off as 

 any telescope." This statement, which was yelled at me as if 

 the whole thing was a joke, was followed by the rapid descent 

 of the speaker ; but on reaching the ground he changed his 

 tone of voice, and said that we were in for another sort of 

 hunt, and that he feared we should have to play the part of 

 the elk. " There's more'n a hundred Injuns in that crowd 

 near the mountains/' said he, " and there's more'n fifty in the 

 woods towards which you were running after that last elk, 

 so we've got one hundred and fifty against twelve; mighty 

 lively times we'll have of it afore long, I tell you, and if 

 any of us can scratch our head to-night we'll be mighty lucky, 

 you bet your boots." 



Asking him what he thought ought to be done, he replied, 

 that there was nothing to be done just then except to collect 



