with the children of their principal men as captives,
had filled them with consternation at what they saw, and apprehensions
of a fearful kind for what they saw not. Returning from a successful
foray, laden with spoil, and big with the prospect of feasting and
triumph, they suddenly perceived themselves out-generalled at their own
game. They knew we had been to their town. They conjectured that we
had plundered and burnt their houses, and massacred their women and
children. They fancied no less; for this was the very work in which
they had themselves been engaged, and their judgment was drawn from
their own conduct.

They saw, moreover, that we were a large party, able to defend what we
had taken, at least against them; for they knew well that with their
firearms the scalp-hunters were an over-match for them, when there was
anything like an equality of numbers.

With these ideas, then, it required deliberation on their part, as well
as with us; and we knew that it would be some time before they would
act. They, too, were in a dilemma.

The hunters obeyed the injunctions of Seguin, and remained silent,
waiting upon Rube to deliver his advice.

The old trapper stood apart, half-resting upon his rifle, which he
clutched with both hands near the muzzle. He had taken out the
"stopper," and was looking into the barrel, as if he were consulting
some oracular spirit that he kept bottled up within it. It was one of
Rube's peculiar "ways," and those who knew this were seen to smile as
they watched him.

After a few minutes spent in this silent entreaty, the oracle seemed to
have sent forth its response; and Rube, returning the stopper to its
place, came walking forward to the chief.

"Billee's right, cap. If them Injuns must be fit, it's got to be did
whur thur's rocks or timmer. They'd whip us to shucks on the paraira.
That's settled. Wal, thur's two things: they'll eyther come at us; if
so be, yander's our ground," (here the speaker pointed to a spur of the
Mimbres); "or we'll be obleeged to foller them. If so be, we can do it
as easy as fallin' off a log. They ain't over leg-free."

"But how should we do for provisions, in that case? We could never
cross the desert without them."

"Why, cap, thur's no diffeeculty 'bout that. Wi' the parairas as dry as
they are, I kud stampede that hul cavayard as easy as a gang o'
bufflers; and we'd come in for a share o' them, I reckin. Thur's a wus
thing than that, t