258 



RECREA TION. 





WE CRAWLED TO THE EDGE OF THE BLUFF.' 



all fours the doctor, the Indian and my- 

 self soon reached the bluff, the edge of 

 which, fortunately for our purpose, was 

 partially hidden from below by a growth 

 of brush. 



There was no mistake this time. There 

 they were, a well equipped war party, 

 but beyond the reach of our cavalry car- 

 bines. They were already astir and appar- 

 ently preparing for something. We could 

 see them distinctly, almost hear their 

 voices. It was the party we had expected 

 to find, returning from the Mexican bor- 

 der with many scalps and a great deal of 

 plunder. We tried to count them, but 

 could not do so accurately. We estimated 

 their number at not less than 75, appar- 

 ently well armed, and with horses close 

 at hand. The sun was just rising and the 

 opportunity of the morning had been 

 lost. What to do was the question. I 

 knew that the hostiles, though consider- 

 ably outnumbering my men, would not 



fight, and would not, under any circum- 

 stances, attempt to hold the position in 

 which we had found them. Besides, the 

 intervening ground was so steep and 

 rough that it would be impossible for 

 men to ride over it at anything like a 

 rapid gait, if at all. While we were hesi- 

 tating the Indians discovered us. 



Forward ! was sounded on the bugle, 

 its notes ringing out for the first time 

 since leaving the post; and forward we 

 went without regard to order. The side 

 of the bluff swarmed with soldiers, 

 mounted and dismounted, all eagerly 

 pushing on — any way to get there — the 

 men yelling like so many Comanches. 

 As soon as within range fire was opened, 

 the wild scramble continuing; but itwas 

 useless. We were too late — the Apaches 

 were off like the wind. None tried to 

 make a stand, and a few only attempted 

 to secure some of the plunder which was 

 thickly strewn over the ground. 



