e breast. This being caught by the
hand, makes a sling, into which the elbow falls, taking the weight of
the body on the middle of the upper arm. Into this loop the rider drops
suddenly and fearlessly, leaving his heel to hang over the horse's back,
to steady him, and also to restore him to his seat when desired.

By this stratagem the Indians had approached on the present occasion
almost within rifle range before they were discovered, and it required
the utmost speed of the hunters' horses to enable them to avoid being
overtaken. One of the Indians, who was better mounted than his fellows,
gained on the fugitives so much that he came within arrow range, but
reserved his shaft until they were close on the margin of the wood,
when, being almost alongside of Henri, he fitted an arrow to his bow.
Henri's eye was upon him, however; letting go the line of the pack-horse
which he was leading, he threw forward his rifle, but at the same moment
the savage disappeared behind his horse, and an arrow whizzed past the
hunter's ear.

Henri fired at the horse, which dropped instantly, hurling the
astonished Camanchee upon the ground, where he lay for some time
insensible. In a few seconds pursued and pursuers entered the wood,
where both had to advance with caution, in order to avoid being swept
off by the overhanging branches of the trees.

Meanwhile the sultry heat of which Joe had formerly spoken increased
considerably, and a rumbling noise, as if of distant thunder, was heard;
but the flying hunters paid no attention to it, for the led horses gave
them so much trouble, and retarded their flight so much, that the
Indians were gradually and visibly gaining on them.

"We'll ha' to let the packs go," said Joe, somewhat bitterly, as he
looked over his shoulder. "Our scalps 'll pay for't if we don't."

Henri uttered a peculiar and significant _hiss_ between his teeth, as he
said, "P'raps ve better stop and fight!"

Dick said nothing, being resolved to do exactly what Joe Blunt bid him;
and Crusoe, for reasons best known to himself, also said nothing, but
bounded along beside his master's horse, casting an occasional glance
upwards to catch any signal that might be given.

They had passed over a considerable space of ground, and were forcing
their way, at the imminent hazard of their necks, through a
densely-clothed part of the wood, when the sound above referred to
increased, attracting the attention of both parties. In a