ATTACKED BY THE PAWNEES. 141 
dled round a blazing fire, presented to the 
rifles of the Indians. The savage yells, which 
resounded from every part of the ravine, bore 
very satisfactory testimony that this was no 
false alarm ; and the ‘ Pawnee whistle’ which 
was heard in every quarter, at once impressed 
us with the idea of its being a band of that 
famous prairie banditti. 
very man sprang from his pallet with 
rifle in hand ; for, upon the Prairies, we always 
sleep with our arms by our sides or under our 
heads. Our Comanche seemed at first very 
much at a loss what to do. At last, thinking 
it might possibly be a band of his own nation, 
he began a most boisterous harangue in his 
vernacular tongue, which he continued for 
several minutes ; when finding that the ene- 
my took no notice of him, and having become 
convinced also, from an occasional Pawnee 
word which he was able to make out, that he 
had been wasting breath with the mortal foes 
of his race, he suddenly ceased all expostu- 
lations, and blazed away with his rifle, witha 
degree of earnestness which was truly edify- 
ing, as if convinced that that was the best he 
could do for us. 
It was now evident that the Indians had 
taken possession of the entire ravine, the 
nearest points of which were not fifty Gants 
from our wagons: a warning to prairie tra- 
vellers to encamp at a greater fiteace from 
whatsoever might afford sheiter for an enemy. 
The banks of the gully were low, but still they 
formed a very good breastwork, behind which 
