er they came
near him, which always had the effect of turning them back. This was
repeated so often that the Indians finally abandoned the pursuit, and
left the traveler to pursue his journey without farther molestation.
During all this time he did not discharge his rifle; had he done so he
would doubtless have been killed.

SELECTION OF CAMPS.

The security of animals, and, indeed, the general safety of a party, in
traveling through a country occupied by hostile Indians, depends
greatly upon the judicious selection of camps. One of the most
important considerations that should influence the choice of a locality
is its capability for defense. If the camp be pitched beside a stream,
a concave bend, where the water is deep, with a soft alluvial bed
inclosed by high and abrupt banks, will be the most defensible, and all
the more should the concavity form a peninsula. The advantages of such
a position are obvious to a soldier's eye, as that part of the
encampment inclosed by the stream is naturally secure, and leaves only
one side to be defended. The concavity of the bend will enable the
defending party to cross its fire in case of attack from the exposed
side. The bend of the stream will also form an excellent corral in
which to secure animals from a stampede, and thereby diminish the
number of sentinels needful around the camp. In herding animals at
night within the bend of a stream, a spot should be selected where no
clumps of brush grow on the side where the animals are posted. If
thickets of brush can not be avoided, sentinels should be placed near
them, to guard against Indians, who might take advantage of this cover
to steal animals, or shoot them down with arrows, before their presence
were known.

In camping away from streams, it is advisable to select a position in
which one or more sides of the encampment shall rest upon the crest of
an abrupt hill or bluff. The prairie Indians make their camps upon the
summits of the hills, whence they can see in all directions, and thus
avoid a surprise.

The line of tents should be pitched on that side of the camp most
exposed to attack, and sentinels so posted that they may give alarm in
time for the main body to rally and prepare for defense.

SANITARY CONSIDERATIONS.

When camping near rivers and lakes surrounded by large bodies of timber
and a luxuriant vegetation, which produces a great amount of
decomposition and consequent exhalations of malaria, it is impor