a very warlike effect when fired in quick and regular
succession.

Carrying these in their hands, and disposed round their persons,
intermixed with short swords and long bowie-knives, the whole party
mounted guard, bristling like human hedge-hogs, and, placed at equal
intervals on each side of the camp, marched about for an hour or two,
without seeing or hearing anything more of their enemies.

At last their mule became a little restive, putting them on the alert,
and shortly afterwards an arrow whizzed past Joe's ear. He instantly
presented his carbine in the direction whence it came, and fired. The
shot was answered by a perfect shower of arrows, which pierced the
clothes of some of the white men, and slightly wounded Douglas in the
left arm, but fortunately did no further damage. The discharge was
followed by a quick movement in the bushes, rendered audible by the
crushing of dried leaves and breaking of branches. This guided the
whites in their aim, and a volley was poured into the bush, followed by
several random shots from revolvers.

Soon after all noise was hushed, and a brief examination of the
surrounding bushes was made, but it could not be ascertained that any
damage had been done to the Indians, who always make it a point, when
possible, to carry off their dead to prevent their being scalped--a
dishonour they fear almost as much as death.

"Now, one half of us may sleep," said Rance, when the party was again
collected round the fire.

"Sleep!" exclaimed Frank.

"Ay, there's nothing more to fear from the rascals to-night, if we keep
a good look-out--and that may be done as effectively by three of us as
by six. If we each get a wink of an hour or two, we shall be quite fit
to travel or to fight in the morning. So let me advise you to lose no
time about it.--Not badly hurt, sir, I hope?" he added, addressing
Douglas.

"Nothing to speak of," answered the Scot, "only a graze of the skin."

"Well, get away to rest. You can take the second watch, and it is not
likely they will disturb you before morning. If they do, you won't
require to be called, so keep your weapons handy."

As Rance prophesied, so it turned out. The Indians had got an
unexpectedly severe repulse, and did not attempt to interfere with the
travellers during the night, but in the morning they were found to have
posted themselves on the opposite banks of the stream, evidently with
the intention of disputing the further progress