208 EXPEDITION INTO 



given place to a ruddy tiiit^ which speedily extended itself 

 over the whole vault of heaven ; but thoug'h the outline of 

 objects in the extreme distance could now be indistinctly 

 traced, those immediately about us were yet shrouded in 

 darkness. Around, all was silent as the tomb, not a zephyr 

 disturbing- the death-like stillness that was reig*ning-. As 

 objects became g-radually plainer, the forms of several conical 

 huts could be disting-uished, and lastl}^, by a still less dubious 

 lig-ht, the prostrate carcases of many of our oxen became 

 visible, a surfeited old vulture, the g-enius of desolation, here 

 and there mounting sentry over them. Alas ! it was then, 

 as we had feared ) but, if indeed we were irretrievably ruined, 

 our moment for taking* veng-eance had arrived. Stealing- 

 over the parapet, every rifle was noiselessly cocked, and a 

 fing-er flew to every trig-g-er, as, with palpitating- hearts and 

 wary tread, we approached the wretched wig'wams. Woe 

 unto that luckless wight who had there been found sleeping* 

 — he would never have woke again. But, though smouldering- 

 fires were smoking in various directions, every cabin was 

 deserted; and having visited each in succession, and diligently 

 searched every nook and corner, without being able to dis- 

 cover a solitary human being, we turned for a moment to 

 contemplate the tragic scene before us. Nineteen of our 

 gallant oxen, SAVollen and disfigured with many a wanton 

 wound, were stretched in the wild enclosure, from which 

 arose the most sickening of savage odours. Lean dogs, 



" Gorging and growling o'er carcase and limb," 



held their carnival over the dead, but were too busy even to 

 bark at our intrusion ; while torpid vultures, distended to 

 such a size that they could with difficulty hop out of our 

 way, were perched like harpies upon the surrounding rocks. 

 It was by this time broad daylight, and a few of our oxen 

 being, to our great delight, perceived standing at the foot 



