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 off 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 
