th a surly murmur he fumbled
mechanically at his belt, and thrust the blade back into its sheath.

But the mutiny was not yet quelled. These were men not so easily
conquered. Fierce exclamations still continued, and the mutineers again
began to encourage one another with shouts.

I had thrown myself alongside the chief, with my revolvers cocked and
ready, resolved to stand by him to the death. Several others had done
the same, among whom were Rube, Garey, Sanchez the bull-fighter, and the
Maricopa.

The opposing parties were nearly equal, and a fearful conflict would
have followed had we fought; but at this moment an object appeared that
stifled the resentment of all. It was the common enemy!

Away on the western border of the valley we could see dark objects,
hundreds of them, coming over the plain. They were still at a great
distance, but the practised eyes of the hunters knew them at a glance.
They were horsemen; they were Indians; they were our pursuers, the
Navajoes!

They were riding at full gallop, and strung over the prairie like hounds
upon a run. In a twinkling they would be on us.

"Yonder!" cried Seguin, "yonder are scalps enough to satisfy you; but
let us see to our own. Come! to your horses! On with the atajo! I
will keep my word with you at the pass. Mount! my brave fellows,
mount!"

The last speech was uttered in a tone of reconciliation; but it needed
not that to quicken the movements of the hunters. They knew too well
their own danger. They could have sustained the attack among the
houses, but it would only have been until the return of the main tribe,
when they knew that every life would be taken. To make a stand at the
town would be madness, and was not thought of. In a moment we were in
our saddles; and the atajo, strung out with the captives and provisions,
was hurrying off toward the woods. We purposed passing the defile that
opened eastward, as our retreat by the other route was now cut off by
the advancing horsemen.

Seguin had thrown himself at the head, leading the mule upon which his
daughter was mounted. The rest followed, straggling over the plain
without rank or order.

I was among the last to leave the town. I had lingered behind
purposely, fearing some outrage, and determined, if possible, to prevent
it.

"At length," thought I, "they have all gone!" and putting spurs to my
horse, I galloped after.

When I had ridden about a hundred yards from the walls, a