66 NEW TEACKS IN NOETH AMERICA. 



4 



Standing side "by side, and Luilt of wood and stone, 

 are the stables and tlic ranclie in vliicli tlie di'iyers and 

 the ostlers live. Behind is a coralle, or yard, divided off 

 from the plain by a wall of stones. In this is kept the hay, 

 &c., belonging to the station. A little subterranean passage, 

 about five feet by thi-ee, leads from the stables to the house. 

 Another one leads from the stables to a pit dug in the 

 ground, about ten yards distant. This pit is about eight or 

 ten feet square, is roofed with stone supported on wood, and 

 just on a level with the ground portholes open on all sides. 

 The roof is raised but little above the general level of the 

 ground ; more, however, at this station than at most of them. 

 Another narrow subterraneous passage leads from the house 

 to a second pit, commanding the other side of the station ; 

 while a third passage runs from the coralle to a larger pit, 

 commanding the rear. In both houses, many repeating 

 Spencer and Henry breech-loading rifles — the former carry- 

 ing seven, and the latter eighteen charges — ^lie loaded 

 and ready to hand; while OA^er each little fort a black 

 flag waves, which the red-men know well means "no 

 quarter" for them. When attacked, the men creep into 

 these pits, and, thus protected, keep up a tremendous fii'e 

 thi'ough the portholes. Two or three men, with a couple of 

 breech-loaders each, are a match for almost any number of 

 assailants. I cannot say how many times these little forts 

 have been used since their construction, but dm'ing the thi'ee 

 weeks we were in the neighboiurhood, the station was 

 attacked twice. The Indians are beginning to understand 

 these covered rifle-pits, and the more they know of them the 

 more careful they are to keep at a respectful distance from 

 them. 



At the close of the following week General Hancock 



