A DARING WARRIOR. 803 



liminary feats of horsemanship, the squaws 

 and papooses flew like scattered partridges 

 to the rocks and clefts of a contiguous preci- 

 pice. One-third of our party bemg Mexicans, 

 the first step of the Indians was to proclaim 

 a general indidto to them, in hopes of reducing 

 our force, scanty as it w^as already. "My 

 Mexican friends," exclaimed in good Span- 

 ish, a young warrior who daringly rode up 

 within a few rods of us, " we don't wish to 

 hurt you; so leave those Americans, for we 

 intend to kill every one of them:' The Mexi- 

 cans of onr party to wdiom this language was 

 addressed, being rancheros of some mettle, 

 only answx^red, " Al diahio ! we have not for- 

 gotten how you treat us w^hen you catch us 

 alone : now that we are with Americans who 

 will defend their rights, expect ample retaha- 

 tion for past insuUs." In tmth, these ranche- 

 ros seemed the most anxious to begin the 

 fight, — a remarkable instance of the effects 

 of confidence in companions. 



A crisis seemed now fast approaching : two 

 swivels we had with us were levelled and 

 primed, and the matches Ughted. Every man 

 was at his post, with his rifle ready for execu- 



ch anxious to do 



might be the result; when the Indians, see- 

 ing us determined to embrace the chances of 

 war, began to open negotiations. An aged 

 squaw, said to be the mother of the principal 

 chief; rode up and exclaimed, " My sons ! the 

 Americans and Yutas have been friends, and 

 our old men w^ish to continue so : it is only a 



