352 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



The two other Americans now beckoned to me to 

 follow them; and not knowing whether the friends 

 of the fallen man might not avenge themselves in 

 secret, they mounted, and one of them taking me up 

 behind him, we started at a gallop along a narrow 

 path leading into the interior, following the distinct 

 hoof-marks of the fugitive's horse. We halted at 

 dark and made a fire ; setting off again at daybreak, 

 we soon arrived at the burnt-out fire of our comrade, 

 who was again peaceably sleeping unconcerned about 

 any pursuit. Yet he must have thought one probable ; 

 for a cocked pistol lay by his side, although his morbid 

 drowsiness had got the better of his fears. 



I gently removed the pistol for fear of accident, 

 and awoke him. I had hardly touched his shoulder 

 when he made a gi-asp at the vacant place ; but he 

 soon recognized us, and we made him understand that 

 this was not the best place to sleep in undisturbed. 

 He admitted that himself ; a hasty breakfast was 

 devoured, and we took time to wash our hands from 

 human blood, partly our own, partly that of others. 

 My left hand, which I had hastily bound up the night 

 before, began to be very painful ; I had received a 

 thrust through the palm, and the sinews w^ere exposed. 

 Laying wood-ashes on the wound I bandaged it again. 

 I had also received a slight cut on the left side. All 

 the others were more or less hurt ; indeed, I seemed to 

 have come off the best. 



After breakfast, we left the path and struck into 

 the forest, by no means following my intended direc- 

 tion to the south-west ; so I took a friendly leave of 

 the three men, turned to the right, and soon lost 



