silent# Se could only keep on toward where he heard the 
sound last, and to his amassment he discovered the herd Just 
ahead of hi® 'rounded up in a elftae hunch standing quit© still 
in the darkness. He passed around them thus to turn them 
hack toward camp in case they should be fri^itened* H© ©am© 
within a few feet of the bunch, and approaching more closely 
was about t© place his hand on the face of the old bald-faced 
bell-horse when the horse shook his head and there was no bell, 
and it suddenly dawned upon Tom that these strange movements 
of the animals were not mad© of their own will but under the 
guidance of the band of Indian desperadoes* The explanation 
cam© very suddenly# A flash of lightning revealed the crouch- 
ing forms of two savages, almost within the reach of his foot, 
engaged in cutting the hobbles from the two hobbled mules* they 
©aught sight of him at the same moment and were so struck with 
abasement that they thought only of flight * With a bound they 
sprang upon their ponies and were off like a shot. fom, doubt- 
less somewhat ©tunned, did not take, to flight but Jumping on the 
nearest mule started the herd toward camp uttering the most fear- 
ful yell© at every jump# fhe red-skins, as they flew up the 
valley and over the rolling hills must have felt their blood 
freeze at the very sound* Certainly they did not stop until a 
long distance intervened between them and the scene of their 
fright# In half an hour our animals were all safe in ©amp* We 
thanked fom for having saved us from a great disaster - that of 
, being set afoot in a practical desert E00 miles from the nesrest 
habitation* 
