apper spoke, two hundred voices broke into a simultaneous yell.
It was the war-cry of the Navajoes!

As its vengeful notes rang upon the canon, they were answered by loud
cheers from the hunters, mingled with the wild whoops of their Delaware
and Shawano allies.

The Indians halted for a moment beyond the narrowing of the canon, until
those who were rearmost should close up. Then, uttering another cry,
they dashed forward into the gap.

So sudden was their charge that several of them had got fairly through
before a shot was fired. Then came the reports of the guns; the crack--
crack--crack of rifles; the louder detonations of the Spanish pieces,
mingled with the whizzing sound of Indian arrows. Shouts of
encouragement and defiance were given on both sides; and groans were
heard, as the grooved bullet or the poisoned barb tore up the yielding
flesh.

Several of the Indians had fallen at the first volley. A number had
ridden forward to the spot of our ambush, and fired their arrows in our
faces. But our rifles had not all been emptied; and these daring
savages were seen to drop from their saddles at the straggling and
successive reports.

The main body wheeled behind the rocks, and were now forming for a
second charge. This was the moment of danger. Our guns were idle, and
we could not prevent them from passing the gap, and getting through to
the open country.

I saw Seguin draw his pistol, and rush forward, calling upon those who
were similarly armed to follow his example. We ran after our leader
down to the very jaws of the canon, and stood waiting the charge.

It was soon to come; for the enemy, exasperated by many circumstances,
were determined on our destruction, cost what it might. Again we heard
their fierce war-cry, and amidst its wild echoes the savages came
galloping into the gap.

"Now's yur time," cried a voice; "fire! Hooray!"

The cracks of fifty pistols were almost simultaneous. The foremost
horses reared up and fell back, kicking and sprawling in the gap. They
fell, as it were, in a body, completely choking up the channel. Those
who came on behind urged their animals forward. Some stumbled on the
heap of fallen bodies. Their horses rose and fell again, trampling both
dead and living among their feet. Some struggled over and fought us
with their lances. We struck back with our clubbed guns, and closed
upon them with our knives and tomahawks.

The stream rose and foamed against