s could I discover of his having passed that way, as the snow
lay unbroken along the whole path. I dared not turn my head to
ascertain whether the Indians had yet entered the opening. I was
encouraged, however by believing that they were not better acquainted
with the country than I was, and that they would have no advantage over
me in that respect.

It was no easy matter to stick on to the bare back of my horse, and had
he not gone steadily forward, I could scarcely have done so. On and on
I went; if I could continue my course until daylight, I hoped that I
might get into the neighbourhood of the fort, and perhaps meet with some
of the garrison out hunting deer or buffalo. It was a question,
however, whether my horse would hold out so long. At present, he was
behaving beautifully, and showing no signs of flagging. My earnest
prayer was that Dio's would behave as well. As long as the glade was
level I had little doubt about his keeping up the same pace, but should
it come uneven, with rocks to pass over, or hills to climb, I feared
that he might give in. How many miles I had gone over, I could not
tell. The open prairie was at length reached; no Indians had appeared.
Some way farther on I caught sight of a rocky height against the deep
blue sky, running directly across my course. If there was no path
through it, I must surmount it, and with my tired steed, this would
cause delay, and probably, should the Indians be pursuing, they would
catch me up. The task, however, had to be accomplished; I rode forward;
it was farther off than I expected, but at length I reached it. I soon
found from the way my poor horse went, that I must dismount.

Taking him by the halter, which had served as my bridle, I began to
climb up over the uneven ground. On gaining the top, I took one glance
round and made out some dark objects moving over the plain towards me.
A shout reached my ears; I had been seen; but my pursuers would have to
climb up as I had done, and could I reach the bottom in safety I should
gain on them. I was well aware that the descent was more difficult and
dangerous than the ascent. On I went: to my dismay I came to the edge
of a precipice; it was of no great depth, but both my horse and I might
break our legs should we attempt to leap it, though Boxer might have
performed the operation without danger. I rode along, hoping to find a
more practicable path; I had, however, to ascend some distance, and then
c