434 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



the lasso. He urged his horse behind one of the many 

 clumps of cactus around him, with the intention of laying 

 in wait to give these dusky wild horse hunters a trial for 

 their scalps as they went past him. 



As he changed his position, the figures which were 

 approaching became more distinctly defined against the 

 back-ground of sky, for they were descending towards him ! 

 He saw, what sent his heart into his throat, that each 

 animal had an Indian slung along its side, by one hand 

 and foot, holding to either horn of the saddle ! This is a 

 common trick of theirs in approaching an enemy by day-light, 

 on the prairies ; and it is difficult of detection at a distance, 

 by the most experienced eye, as they ride close together, 

 and no part of the body is shown above the outline of the 

 horse. 



Dan was ofi' in a twinkling ! The tables were very suddenly 

 turned; for instead of taking a scalp or two himself, as he 

 had expected, it would now require the best he knew to save 

 his own. It was well that he could trust his horse, for they 

 had got so close to him that his escape at all must be a matter 

 of sheer speed — he must run away from them or be run through 

 by them. " To be or not to be," was the question now with 

 poor Dan, while he desperately urged his good horse with 

 quirt and spur. So soon as they saw him start, the rascals 

 had wheeled up into their saddles again, and yelled their 

 war-whoop like exulting devils. This was a sound which, 

 though it came to his ears somewhat softened by the distance, 

 was by no means calculated to diminish the energy or urgency 

 of the calls upon the speed of his horse, which were made by 

 Dan. He glanced furtively over his shoulder and saw that 

 they were spreading out into the prairie with the intention 

 of hemming him in against the mountains. He instantly 

 perceived that his only chance was a desperate run for an 

 elbow of the chain, which, if he could reach and turn first, he 

 thought would secure his scalp for the present, as around it 



