e made our way in the direction
from whence the voice came.

He had grown anxious at my long delay, and had got leave from my uncles
to try and find out what had become of me.

We soon got back to the waggon; and by giving the patient oxen the
remainder of our water, they having in the meantime cropped some grass,
we were able to move forward. The road, in the dark, was difficult; but
we managed to reach the camp without any accident, and were heartily
welcomed by our friends.

Those who wished to return had, we found, summoned a meeting, and it was
settled that the matter should be decided by the majority of votes. My
uncles turned the scale in favour of going on. They pointed out that it
would be as dangerous to retreat as to advance.

Mr Sparks urged that it would be madness to give up the enterprise.
Water, he assured us, would be found at the end of every day's march, or
even oftener; and though Indians might be met, with our rifles we could
without difficulty keep them at bay, as none of them were likely to
possess firearms--their only weapons being bows and arrows and spears.
His remarks prevailed; and it was agreed that after a day's rest, which
the cattle greatly required, we should recommence our march.

Once more we were making our toilsome way across the desert. For two
days we had moved on without interruption, keeping scouts out as usual
on either side to give notice should any Indians approach. Reuben and
I, and other young men, performed that necessary duty for several hours
each day.

Early in the morning of the second day we caught sight in the distance
of a couple of horsemen with long spears in their hands. They galloped
towards us, apparently to ascertain who we were; then, wheeling round,
they quickly disappeared, and though we were on the watch we saw no more
of them. When we halted at noon, we of course reported the
circumstance. As it showed that Redskins were in the neighbourhood,
several more men were told off to act as scouts, with orders to retreat
towards the train the moment they might see any Indians, whether few or
many.

Reuben, Mike, and I were advancing as I have described, somewhat ahead
of the train, when towards evening we entered a valley, the hills
sloping away on either side of it. At the further end we expected to
find a stream, at the side of which we could encamp. I was leading,
Mike was next to me, and Reuben was nearest the train. The ground I was
traver