April.] ATTACKED BY INDIANS. 203 



we had seen no game worthy the expense of ammunition, and our 

 intended hunting ground was yet many miles distant. One of my 

 companions had succeeded in taking a wild cat with his lasso, and 

 after securing the skin left the carcass for the bears to dine on, with 

 which he said the neighbouring woods abounded. 



By the hour !of noon, we had shot and taken a variety of game, 

 among which were hares, rabbits, and partridges ; and as our horses 

 now required rest and refreshment as well as their riders, we gave 

 them an hour to graze in a beautiful little valley which the opening 

 spring had just covered with a velvet carpet of green. On the side 

 of a mountain at a short distance we saw several flocks of deer brows- 

 ing, and among them some stags of an immense size. But they took 

 to flight before we could approach within musket-shot, and disappeared 

 in the forest. 



Just as we had finished our midday repast, and were collecting our 

 horses together, a rustling in a neighbouring thicket arrested my at- 

 tention, and in the next instant a stag darted forth, and rushed across 

 the valley directly towards our party. Fright must have deprived 

 him of his usual quick-sightedness, for it was evident he did not per- 

 ceive the new danger into which he was plunging headlong. One of 

 my Californian friends threw his lasso just as I touched the trig- 

 ger of my musket. The animal leaped high in the air, and fell dead 

 on the spot. The ball had entered his forehead, and his huge branch- 

 ing antlers were completely entangled in the lasso, at the same moment. 



The hero of the lasso sprang from his horse, and while disentan- 

 gling his successful instrument, he good-humouredly observed that we 

 must decide our right to the noble animal by a game at billiards. Just 

 as I was signifying my assent to the proposition, a whizzing sound 

 passed my ear, and the Californian exclaimed that he was wounded. 

 An Indian arrow from the thicket had pierced his arm. 



" An Apacherian ! an Apacherian !" exclaimed every voice at once, 

 as each man sprang upon his steed, and the whole party rushed 

 into the thicket in search of the ambushed enemy. Nothing, however, 

 was to be seen, until we had gained the summit of a little eminence 

 on the south, when we discovered three Indians on horseback, riding 

 in a south-eastern direction in a very deliberate manner. My wounded 

 friend clapped spurs to his horse, and fired at the same time without 

 success. We all joined in the pursuit, determined to chastise the as- 

 sailants at all hazards. On seeing our purpose, they gave a horrid 

 yell, and put their horses at full speed. This of course excited greater 

 ardour in the pursuit, and for the first time that day did my fiery 

 charger feel the spur. The hint was sufficient — he outflew the wind, 

 and I should have soon overtaken the fugitives, but was aware of the 

 imprudence of doing so. I therefore so far checked my steed as to 

 keep only about fifty yards in front of our party. 



The south extremity of a bluff* ridge, terminating in a rocky preci- 

 pice, was soon to conceal the retreating savages from our view; 

 and before passing it they had the audacity to wheel, and discharge 

 their arrows in our faces. The next moment they were invisible. 

 One of their arrows only took effect, piercing my bridle-arm just above 



