60 NEW TRACKS IN NOETH A])IEEICA. 



wisely detained the rest of tlie party in camp to defend it in 

 case of attack while the cavalry were away. Finding no 



■ 



Indians advancing along the ravine^ we returned to break- 

 fast, feeling it undesirable to go farther unprotected and 

 alone. Two hours of great suspense followed, which was not 

 much relieved by the appearance of a horseman from the field 

 of action, who came to get an ambulance for the dead and 

 wounded. 



The following is an account of this engagement ; 



'No sooner had the cavalry followed the retiring band 

 beyond the ridge, exchanging shots and skii'mishing all the 

 way, than on either flank two fresh bodies of warriors sud- 

 denly appeared. They halted for a few minutes ; a power- 

 ful-looking warrior, fancifully dressed, galloj)ed along their 

 front shouting out directions; and then, like a whirlwind, 

 with lances poised and aiTows on the string, they rushed on 

 the little band of fifty soldiers. The skirmishers fired and 

 fell back on the line, and in an instant the Indians were 

 amongst them. !N"ow the tide was turned. Saddles were 

 emptied, and the soldiers forced back oyer the ground towards 

 the fort. The bugler fell, j^ierced by five arrows, and was 

 instantly seized by a powerful warrior, who, stooping down 

 from his horse, hauled him up before him, coolly stripped the 

 body, and then, smashing the head of his naked victim with his 

 tomahawk, threw him on the groimd under his horse's feet. On 

 the left of our line the Indians pressed heavily, cutting off five 

 men, among them Sergeant Frederick Wylyams. With his 

 little force, this poor fellow held out nobly till his horse 

 was killed, and one by one the soldiers fell, selling their lives 

 dearly. The warrior who appeared to lead the band was, up 

 to this time, very conspicuous in the fight, dashing back and 

 forth on his grey horse, and by his actions setting an example 



